HEREFORD United’s director of football, Graham Turner, has been named League 2’s manager of the season by the League Managers Association, writes RICHARD PRIME.

The Bulls chief beat off some strong competition to net the award and is the only manager in the four divisions to win the top prize without having managed the divisional champions.

Even Turner himself had expected the award for League 2 to go to MK Dons’ boss Paul Ince who had not only led his side to the title but also to victory in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.

The League managers, however, have recognised Turner’s extraordinary achievement in leading Hereford to promotion.

He has had a much smaller budget to deal with than many of his League 2 rivals and has built his side with only one player, club captain Ben Smith, having cost a transfer fee.

Turner is now busily getting down to the hard work of planning for United’s first campaign in the third tier of English football since 1977-8.

The players were due back yesterday from their post-season break. Many will be visiting the ground to talk terms with Turner as he decides whom he would like to retain for next season.

Meanwhile, the pre-season programme for next campaign is already starting to take shape.

United will visit Aggborough to take on Kidderminster Harriers on July 14 and will entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers on July 16, Southampton on July 22 and West Bromwich Albion on August 1.

Turner is also hoping to arrange a fixture with Aston Villa.