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Well, that is our season effectively over. There were a number of positives, not least the fact that we still have a club to support and it looks like we will have the ability to remain full time next season. Next season is shaping up to be a very different one with the likelelyhood of a full return of fans, the possibilities of 4 Highland derbies and a much more level playing field than for some time with three being no single club in the division with resources much greater than all their rivals. We have a number of positives with the nucleus of a decent settled squad including the ever improving Dave Carson and Daniel McKay now reaching the potential he showed as a 16 year old before injury set back his progress. On that basis, we have the foundation to genuinely challenge for automatic promotion for the first time in three seasons. However, there is a big decision to be made on the managerial and coaching front. I have every sympathy for John Robertson and the personal difficulties he is continuing to face and great appreciation for the 100% effort and commitment he has put into the role of manager over the last four years. That said, we need to take a dispassionate approach and decide whether he is the right man going forward even if he wants to continue with the role. Personally, and with considerable sadness, I doubt that he is. We have been treading water and, to an extent, stagnating over the last couple of years and, until not that many games ago, looked in at least as much danger of occupying a relegation play off spot than a promotion one. There seemed to be to be a clear and obvious uplift in altitude, performance and, most importantly, results when the interim team took over. My inclination would be to see whether McCann and Dodds would be prepared to accept two year contracts on terms within our budget constraints. If not, I would be inclined to look for a keen young manager with a point to make and a reputation to establish. Calum Davidson seems to be fulfilling just such a role at St Johnstone and may yet lead a club with a fan base no bigger than ours and from a city no larger than hours to an incredible cup double. Whatever we decide, it is important that a decision that a manager, new or existing, is in place as soon as possible to prepare for what, if we get it right, could be our most fruitful season for seven years.

In the early stages of the season we got ourselves into a reasonable position and things looked bright with Kai Kennedy starting to rip teams apart. But then we had that long miserable run over the winter months - 1 win in 13 matches, that is absolute relegation form, for half the season. Fixture congestion, issues with the management team, losing Kennedy, whatever, that was when our promotion hopes were battered. The arrival of McCann brought no new manager bounce and we had some absolutely terrible results and performances under him before that amazing winning run that only started when Billy Dodds arrived. This put us right back in contention for the playoffs at the right end of the league. Sadly when it came to crunch time we then failed to win any of our last 3 matches, tricky though they were, whilst our rivals got back to winning ways. Lots of factors at play this season, but one simplistic way of looking at it is that we only took 2 points from Alloa, the part timers adrift at the bottom of the league. Positives - financial survival, a victory over County that will be remembered for many years, seeing Allardyce, Dan Mackay, and Todorov establishing themselves as first team regulars. Negatives - lack of contribution from senior players like Storey, Vincent, Keatings and sadly the injury prone Doran. We really missed Tremarco. And the games against Alloa....

Yes some cracking goals there just a pity we didn't score a few more.

Speculation is all very well but unfortunately our Board have a BIG decision to make on our management and coaching team for next season. This is a priority.

I think its good to be disappointed as at one stage it was more fear of relegation. It has been a strange season with ups and downs and the downs have contributed to missing out but as people have said we have a decent core and will look to try and improve the squad adequately. There will be no standout team next season and we have to be optimistic and take our medicine until the start of next season and go again.

The positives, that we survived. The negatives, the ridiculous number of points we conceded from winning positions without which we would have been running Hearts close for the title itself.

And nice to see that character Shaun Rooney having a ‘ball’ ! Good Luck

To be honest, I’m glad the club still exists given the financial problems, and we achieved a reasonable finish after a very inconsistent season. It would be good, if the club is able to say anything, to understand the likely timescales for Robbo and Kells returning, and indeed confirmation that they will return. I think their situations had a big impact on us not getting a play off place, but credit to the players and interim team for turning things around to a degree. We struggled when McCann came in as he tried to change the formation and playing style, but once we reverted to 4-2-3-1 and not always playing it out from the back, we got our act together. Giving Toddy a run of games worked very well. The highlight was the cup win against County, whilst I think we have the nucleus of a decent squad for next season, with those we have under contract. Of last year’s signings, Devine and Deas could become a very good pairing, Duffy could allow Carson back into midfield, and Allardice can become even more influential. Mackay, MacGregor and Harper have established themselves and, whilst still learning the game, have played important roles and hopefully will improve even more next season. Along with Toddy, Mackay’s recent scoring form has been impressive. So where did it go wrong? The off field issues and all the postponements cost us a higher finish in my opinion, but I look at four games where we messed up: losing 2-1 at Alloa after taking an early lead; drawing 2-2 at Morton after being 2-1 up playing against 10 men; losing 1-0 at home to Morton; losing 1-0 at home to Queen of the South. There are probably other games equally as significant but those stand out for me, and are probably the difference between 5th and 2nd. Our injury position didn’t help either, with the absence of Carson in particular for so long a significant impact. However, if we look back at posts last summer, this season’s priority was to remain in business and we have achieved that, and I look forward optimistically to next season. The league will be competitive again, and many teams will have much bigger budgets than us, but I see us competing at the top end of the table, and hopefully maybe even getting promotion. When it comes to voting for player of the season, I will pick between Carson and Toddy, with Mackay getting my vote for young player. Roll on the first league game on 31 July!

Or concede a few less.

Aye, hence the smiley.

I think despite continual turnover in playing staff over the past 3 years we have remained roughly in the same position which is not quite good enough. Unfortunately.

Some might be either shocked or critical of me but I certainly don't lay the blame at either manager, instead putting the blame on certain (but not all) players that haven't performed this season and a short part towards the board for not backing the manager(s) until it was too late. Scott Allan was an inspired signing but why wait until March to sign him, I'm certain Hibs would have given him to us in January if we enquired. So that leads me to these 2 questions below:- : Who should we retain and, if we can, release or move on? : What realistic signings would you like to see come in next season, to replace the players moving on? I'm again not going to be critical here but I would move on players that haven't featured much this past season, like has happened with Toshney (it was his choice though). As for new signings, imho we should be looking at young players either from Scottish Premiership clubs or ones that are available on free transfers, or perhaps ones from the lower leagues that are available. Now, I get that these guys don't come cheap but imho it's time the board backed the manager if at all possible so that we can make a push for the title next season. Before any new signings, it's imperative that we tie down as many players as possible so that the summer rebuild is small, imho we have the basis of a good squad, we just need 2-3 more in to bolster the team.