Mark McGhee hasn't had much to smile about. He can take solace, though, from knowing he represents good media value.
Aberdeen's manager opened the campaign by lamenting the Dons' current standing in the transfer market and how they were on the verge of scouring the Unibond League for players. His marquee summer signing, after all, had been Swindon's Jerel Ifil.
Aberdeen endured a dismal time on the pitch, which meant their manager had to up the ante. As he continually stressed that his record stands up to scrutiny, you could be left wondering if the great Marcello Lippi himself had landed in the north-east. "Ridiculous" and "outrageous" were the adjectives used by McGhee in response to any speculation over his future.
McGhee walked away from a BBC interview after Hamilton won at Pittodrie near the season's end. A magnificent, curse-filled rant followed off air. Next season, Aberdeen's long-suffering punters can only hope their manager answers his critics on the pitch. And that doesn't mean by pulling his boots back on.
taken from their Scottish awards column: