Celtic bounce back in style

Dramatic conclusion
After suffering that particular heartache last season, when Rangers FC prevailed on a dramatic final day, the pain inspired Celtic FC to their third title in four years, and 39th in all, clinched with six matches to spare.

Winning sequence
The campaign started with an unconvincing draw at Dunfermline Athletic FC, but 25 consecutive league wins from that point saw the trophy return to Parkhead. Indeed, until Aberdeen FC were surprise victors there last month, Martin O'Neill's side had gone 77 games without defeat at home - including two UEFA Champions League campaigns and two UEFA Cup runs.

Larsson unstoppable
Rangers could not cling to their crown in the face of Celtic striker Henrik Larsson, who was determined to end his seven-year spell in Glasgow with a glut of goals, and finished with 30 league strikes.

Ibrox anti-climax
After securing a treble of trophies last season, this term has been a huge anti-climax for the Ibrox club. Some 17 points adrift in second place, Rangers lost all four league derbies as well as a Scottish Cup tie to Celtic, who will contest Saturday's cup final against Dunfermline.

Hearts future bright
Against a backdrop of internal rows over the need to raise money by selling their Tynecastle ground and relocating to Scotland's national rugby stadium at Murrayfield, Heart of Midlothian FC deserved their third place and UEFA Cup entry. The future of Craig Levein's team looks bright with the emergence of young talents such as goalkeeper Craig Gordon and Scotland defender Andy Webster.

Plastic controversy
Dunfermline too can be happy even if the decision to play home games on a UEFA-approved plastic pitch was criticised. A win against Rangers on plastic was followed by the club's first victory at Celtic in seven years, as they finished fourth.

Financial woe
Sadly, three of the top 12 clubs in Scotland went into administration during the season. Motherwell FC emerged from a perilous financial state under Terry Butcher's stewardship to claim a top-six place. However, Dundee FC remain troubled by a debt of around £20m and League Cup winners Livingston FC have a £10m deficit and face a fight to be around next season.

Disappointments
Dundee United FC and Aberdeen FC managers, Ian McCall and Steve Paterson, have their work cut out living up to the clubs' illustrious pasts. Hibernian FC also had a disappointing campaign and ended up managerless after Bobby Williamson was lured to England's Plymouth Argyle FC.

Bottom place
Partick Thistle FC, who never recovered from a poor start, despite sacking boss Gerry Collins and appointing players Derek Whyte and Gerry Britton as joint managers, finished the season in last place. However, relegation may be avoided if first division champions Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC fail in their bid to groundshare at Aberdeen next season - their own facility falling short of the 10,000 all-seater stadium criteria needed for entry to the top flight.