This is the fourth year of Clydesdale Bank's sponsorship of the SPL and it was anything but lacking in dramatic events both on and off the park. On the field, the title was decided on the last day for the third time in four seasons. Off it, a series of rows and controversies saw headlines made for the wrong reasons.

Off field controversies saw Neil Lennon and other Celtic players received bullets and parcel bombs in the post and the Parkhead manager was also the subject of a death threat in February. Lennon and Rangers' assistant manager Ally McCoist's touchline scuffle following the Scottish Cup game in March prompted a Scottish government summit to discuss the disorder surrounding Old Firm games. The Celtic manager was in the public eye again when a home fan attacked him at Tynecastle during the game against Hearts in May. Referee Dougie McDonald quit after admitting he'd lied to Lennon over a controversial penalty decision at Tannadice in October, while referees development officer Hugh Dallas was sacked after sending an e-mail from his SFA computer.

Referees' growing concern at their lack of support from the football authorities saw them take a 'day of action ' - effectively, a strike - in November. Refs from Portugal, Israel, Malta and Luxembourg jetted in to cover fixtures in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. Add a harsh winter which saw record numbers of match postponements into the mix and it was another relentlessly fascinating and sometimes stormy season in Scotland.

Both Old Firm clubs started the season with eight league wins in succession, but Rangers edged ahead with an Old Firm win on matchday nine. The Glasgow giants contested the championship throughout but Celtic's defeat at Inverness CT in May derailed their title hopes and Rangers took advantage. The Gers chances had looked bleak when they were beaten at home by Dundee United at the start of April, however that loss prompted a ten-game unbeaten run which ended with them lifting the Clydesdale Bank Premier League trophy in Walter Smith's final game in charge, a 5-1 win at Kilmarnock on May 15.

Lennon's new-look Celtic played some exciting football and a number of his signings were inspired - £600,000 Emilio Izaguirre went on to be voted Scotland's Player of the Year and the £300,000 January capture of Scotland star Kris Commons was another shrewd transfer move.

Hearts edged Dundee United out for third place, but Celtic's Scottish Cup win over Motherwell meant both sides will go into next season's Europa League. Kilmarnock, who were a breath of fresh air under Clydesdale Bank Premier League Manager of the Year Mixu Paatelainen, and Motherwell, who benefitted from Stuart McCall's arrival as manager in December, finished in the top six.

At the bottom of the division, Hamilton occasionally gave a good account of themselves but it was a disastrous home record saw them ultimately drift away from St Mirren and they were relegated after three seasons in the top league. They'll be replaced by Dunfermline. Above Accies, clubs of the size of Hibs and Aberdeen will hope for better seasons next time after disappointing campaigns. Inverness CT will hope to repeat the strong finish they enjoyed, while St Johnstone will have been happy to resist attempts by Brentford to lure manager Derek McInnes away from McDiarmid Park.

Already talks are ongoing relating to changes in the structure of the league, with changes possible for the start of 2012-13 season. But in the meantime, it's all focussed on July 23 and the beginning of another exciting new season in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League.

By cbfootball.co.uk   Last updated: 30 May 2011