Martin Allen was named npower League 2 manager of the year during the League Managers’ Association annual dinner on Monday night.

The awards dinner took place in London, with the top managers from all four leagues in England being recognised for their achievements.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the departing Manchester United manager, was awarded the main manager of the year award, for a record fourth time.

The awards are voted on by managers in all four divisions.

Allen’s Gillingham side were the first professional team to gain promotion this season and the first to win a league title.

They broke club records on the way to achieving what was, for Allen, his first ever promotion in management.

LMA Chairman, Howard Wilkinson (left) said: “There is no doubt that the LMA Annual Awards are perceived as the most accurate measure of a manager’s ability because there are no better judges of your performance than your peers.

Richard Bevan, the LMA chief executive added: “Massive congratulations are due to all award winners as to receive votes from and to be acknowledged by your fellow managers and competitors is a great honour.”

Fellow League 2 manager Phil Parkinson was awarded an LMA Special Merit Award.

His Bradford side reached the League Cup final and returned to Wembley on Saturday to clinch a play-off win over Northampton, to join the Gills in League 1 next season. His team played 64 games during an epic season.

Cardiff City’s Malky Mackay won the Championship award, after leading his side to the title, while in League 1 play-off winning manager Gary Johnson took the award, after guiding Yeovil to the second tier of English football for the first time in their history.