2016–17 Scottish Championship

The 2016–17 Scottish Championship (known as the Ladbrokes Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the 22nd season in the current format of 10 teams in the second tier of Scottish football. The fixtures were published on 17 June 2016.[5]

Ladbrokes Championship
Season2016–17
ChampionsHibernian
PromotedHibernian
RelegatedAyr United
Raith Rovers
Matches played180
Goals scored469 (2.61 per match)
Top goalscorerJason Cummings
Stephen Dobbie
(19 goals)[1][2]
Biggest home winSt Mirren 5–0 Raith Rovers[3]
(29 April 2017)
Biggest away winQueen of the South 0–5 Greenock Morton[3]
(15 October 2016)
Highest scoringAyr United 4–4 Dumbarton[3]
(24 December 2016)
St Mirren 6–2 Ayr United[3]
(1 April 2017)
Longest winning run5 matches:[3]
Dundee United
Hibernian
Queen of the South
Longest unbeaten run12 matches:[3]
Dundee United
Longest winless run15 matches:[3]
Ayr United
Raith Rovers
Longest losing run7 matches:[3]
Queen of the South
Highest attendance19,764[3]
Hibernian 1–1 St Mirren
(6 May 2017)
Lowest attendance600[3]
Dumbarton 0–0 Raith Rovers
(19 November 2016)
Total attendance808,085[3]
Average attendance4,489[3] (2,908[4])
All statistics correct as of 7 May 2017.

Hibernian won the league title and promotion after a 3–0 win against Queen of the South on 15 April 2017.[6]

Teams

The following teams have changed division since the 2015–16 season.

Stadia and locations
Ayr United Dumbarton Dundee United Dunfermline Athletic
Somerset Park Dumbarton Football Stadium Tannadice Park East End Park
Capacity: 10,185[7] Capacity: 2,020[8] Capacity: 14,223[9] Capacity: 11,904[10]
Falkirk
Greenock Morton
Falkirk Stadium Cappielow Park
Capacity: 7,937[11] Capacity: 11,589[12]
Hibernian Queen of the South Raith Rovers St. Mirren
Easter Road Palmerston Park Stark's Park Paisley 2021 Stadium
Capacity: 20,421[13] Capacity: 8,690[14] Capacity: 9,031[15] Capacity: 8,023[16]

Personnel and kits
Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
Ayr United Ian McCall Nicky Devlin Adidas Bodog
Dumbarton Stephen Aitken Darren Barr Joma Turnberry Homes
Dundee United Ray McKinnon Seán Dillon Nike McEwan Fraser Legal
Dunfermline Athletic Allan Johnston Andy Geggan Joma SRJ Windows
Falkirk Peter Houston Mark Kerr Puma Central Demolition
Greenock Morton Jim Duffy Lee Kilday Vision Outsourcing Millions
Hibernian Neil Lennon David Gray Nike Marathonbet
Queen of the South Gary Naysmith John Rankin Macron KBT Pharmacy
Raith Rovers John Hughes Jason Thomson Puma valmcdermid.com (Home shirt)
Myeloma UK (Away shirt)
St Mirren Jack Ross Stephen McGinn Carbrini JD Sports

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Dundee United Mixu Paatelainen Sacked 4 May 2016[17] Pre-season Ray McKinnon 12 May 2016[18]
Raith Rovers Ray McKinnon Resigned 11 May 2016[19] Gary Locke 20 May 2016[20]
Hibernian Alan Stubbs Signed by Rotherham United 1 June 2016[21] Neil Lennon 8 June 2016[22]
St Mirren Alex Rae Sacked 18 September 2016[23] 10th Allan McManus (interim) 18 September 2016[23]
St Mirren Allan McManus (interim) End of interim 4 October 2016 10th Jack Ross 4 October 2016[24]
Queen of the South Gavin Skelton Resigned 7 November 2016[25] 6th Jim Thomson (caretaker) 7 November 2016[25]
Queen of the South Jim Thomson (caretaker) End of interim 5 December 2016[26] 6th Gary Naysmith 5 December 2016[26]
Raith Rovers Gary Locke Sacked 7 February 2017[27] 8th John Hughes 10 February 2017[28]

League summary

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Hibernian (C, P) 36 19 14 3 59 25 +34 71 Promotion to the Premiership
2 Falkirk 36 16 12 8 58 40 +18 60 Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-finals
3 Dundee United 36 15 12 9 50 42 +8 57 Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-finals
4 Greenock Morton 36 13 13 10 44 41 +3 52
5 Dunfermline Athletic 36 12 12 12 46 43 +3 48
6 Queen of the South 36 11 10 15 46 52 −6 43
7 St Mirren 36 9 12 15 52 56 −4 39
8 Dumbarton 36 9 12 15 46 56 −10 39
9 Raith Rovers (R) 36 10 9 17 35 52 −17 39 Qualification for the Championship play-offs
10 Ayr United (R) 36 7 12 17 33 62 −29 33 Relegation to League One
Source: Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored
(C) Champion; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.

Positions by round
Leader - Promotion to 2017–18 Scottish Premiership
Qualification to Premiership play-off semi-finals
Qualification to Premiership play-off quarter-finals
Qualification to Championship play-offs
Relegation to 2017–18 Scottish League One

The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve chronological progress, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for day 16.

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Hibernian322112221111111112111111111111111111
Falkirk978654333555553334444433322222222222
Dundee United484445554222222221222222234444443333
Greenock Morton566897866764334443333344443333334444
Dunfermline Athletic247789788889989777665666666676665555
Queen of the South633321112346666666777555555555556666
St Mirren799910101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101010101098987
Dumbarton855568999998898988888877787788779778
Raith Rovers111233445433445555556788878867887899
Ayr United101010107667767777789999999999999991010101010
Updated to match(es) played on 6 May 2017. Source:

Results

Teams play each other four times, twice in the first half of the season (home and away) and twice in the second half of the season (home and away), making a total of 180 games, with each team playing 36.

Season statistics

Top scorers
As of matches played on 6 May 2017
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Jason Cummings Hibernian 19
Stephen Dobbie Queen of the South
3 Nicky Clark Dunfermline Athletic 15
4 Tony Andreu Dundee United 13
5 Robert Thomson Dumbarton 11
6 Simon Murray Dundee United 10
Craig Sibbald Falkirk
Derek Lyle Queen of the South
9 Lee Miller Falkirk 9
Ross Forbes Greenock Morton
Ryan Hardie Raith Rovers [note 1]

Source:[1][2][29]

note 1 3 league goals scored whilst on loan with St Mirren

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef
Joe CardleDunfermline AthleticDumbarton4–36 August 2016[30]
Alan ForrestAyr UnitedDumbarton3–015 October 2016[31]
Nicky Clark4Dunfermline AthleticDumbarton5–14 March 2017[32]
Stevie MallanSt MirrenRaith Rovers5–029 April 2017[33]
Notes
  • 4 Player scored 4 goals

Player

Club

Attendances
Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Ayr United 33,592 3,100 1,103 1,866 −41.9%†
2 Dumbarton 20,345 1,660 600 1,130 +8.5%†
3 Dundee United 118,516 10,925 4,661 6,584 −17.4%†
4 Dunfermline Athletic 79,885 7,622 2,653 4,438 +26.9%†
5 Falkirk 90,580 6,747 4,160 5,032 +7.8%†
6 Greenock Morton 42,513 4,609 1,451 2,361 −13.5%†
7 Hibernian 277,096 19,764 13,604 15,394 +64.8%†
8 Queen of the South 33,418 3,703 1,147 1,856 −12.2%†
9 Raith Rovers 47,365 5,899 1,161 2,631 +13.6%†
10 St Mirren 64,775 4,997 2,126 3,598 +1.4%†
League total 808,085 19,764 600 4,489 −39.3%†

Updated to games played on 6 May 2017
Source: [3][4]

Awards

Monthly awards
Month Manager of the Month Player of the Month Ref.
Manager Club Player Club
August Neil Lennon Hibernian Jason Cummings Hibernian [36]
September Peter Houston Falkirk Cammy Bell Dundee United
October Jim Duffy Greenock Morton Thomas O'Ware Greenock Morton
November Ray McKinnon Dundee United John McGinn Hibernian
December Stephen Aitken Dumbarton Mark Docherty Dumbarton
January Neil Lennon Hibernian Ross Forbes Greenock Morton
February Peter Houston Falkirk Jason Cummings Hibernian
March Jack Ross St Mirren Efe Ambrose Hibernian
April Jack Ross St Mirren Stevie Mallan St Mirren

Championship Manager of the Season

Championship Player of the Season

PFA Scotland Scottish Championship Team of the Year

The PFA Scotland Scottish Championship Team of the Year was:[37][38]

Championship play-offs

Raith Rovers the second bottom team, entered into a 4-team playoff with the 2nd-4th placed teams in 2016–17 Scottish League One; Alloa Athletic, Airdrieonians and Brechin City.

First leg
10 May 2017[43] Brechin City 1 – 1 Raith Rovers Brechin
19:45 Caldwell  45+1' (pen.) BBC Sport report McManus  70' Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 1,022
Referee: Don Robertson
10 May 2017[43] Airdrieonians 1 – 0 Alloa Athletic Airdrie
19:45 Ryan  52' BBC Sport report Stadium: Excelsior Stadium
Attendance: 1,199
Referee: Stephen Finnie

Second leg
13 May 2017[43] Raith Rovers 3 – 3 (a.e.t.)
(4 – 4 agg.)
(3 – 4 p)		 Brechin City Kirkcaldy
15:00 Mvoto  68'
McManus  90+1'
Hardie  101'		 BBC Sport report Caldwell  51'
Trouten  84'
Watt  115'		 Stadium: Stark's Park
Referee: Alan Muir
Penalties
Handling
Thompson
B. Barr
McManus
Robertson 		Dyer
Watt
McLean
Trouten
Love
Jackson
13 May 2017[43] Alloa Athletic 1 – 0 (a.e.t.)
(1 – 1 agg.)
(4 – 3 p)		 Airdrieonians Alloa
15:00 Robertson  50' BBC Sport report Stadium: Recreation Park
Referee: Barry Cook
Penalties
Taggart
Hetherington
Kirkpatrick
Graham
Waters 		Ryan
Leitch
Russell
MacDonald
McIntosh

Final

The winners of the semi-finals will compete against one another over two legs, with the winner competing in the 2017–18 Scottish Championship.

First leg
17 May 2017[43] Brechin City 1 – 0 Alloa Athletic Brechin
19:35 Ford  56' BBC Sport report Stadium: Glebe Park
Attendance: 702
Referee: Euan Anderson

Second leg
20 May 2017[43] Alloa Athletic 4 – 3 (a.e.t.)
(4 – 4 agg.)
(4 – 5 p)		 Brechin City Alloa
17:15 Spence  36', 40', 73'
Mackin  79'		 BBC Sport report Dale  34'
McLean  54'
Watt  78'		 Stadium: Recreation Park
Attendance: 1,204
Referee: Nick Walsh
Penalties
Taggart
Spence
Kirkpatrick
Graham
Waters
Flannigan 		Dyer
Hill
Jackson
Trouten
Love
Dale

References
  1. "2016–17 Scottish Championship scorers". ESPN. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
  2. "Scottish Championship Top Scorers". BBC. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  3. "2016–17 Scottish Championship performance". ESPN. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  4. "2015–16 Scottish Championship performance". ESPN. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  5. "The SPFL has today unveiled the fixture lists for the 2016/17 Ladbrokes Premiership, Ladbrokes Championship, Ladbrokes League 1 and Ladbrokes League 2 seasons". spfl.co.uk. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  6. "Hibernian 3–0 Queen of the South". BBC Sport. 15 April 2017.
  7. "Ayr United Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  8. "Dumbarton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  9. "Dundee United Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  10. "Dunfermline Athletic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  11. "Falkirk Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  12. "Greenock Morton Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  13. "Hibernian Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  14. "Queen of the South Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
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  16. "St Mirren Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
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  18. "Ray McKinnon Dundee United Manager". Dundee United. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  19. "Ray McKinnon: Dundee Utd target resigns as Raith Rovers manager". BBC Sport. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
  20. "Raith Rovers: Gary Locke is new manager at Stark's Park". BBC Sport. 20 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
  21. "Alan Stubbs: Rotherham United appoint Hibernian boss as their new manager". BBC Sport. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 1 June 2016.
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  23. "St Mirren sack manager Alex Rae after dreadful start to the season". Daily Record. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
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  32. "Dunfermline 5–1 Dumbarton". BBC Sport. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  33. "St Mirren 5 Raith Rovers 0: Saints go marching in with five goal rout of sorry Raith". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  34. "2016–17 Scottish Championship statistics – Player Discipline". ESPN. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  35. "2016–17 Scottish Championship statistics – Club Discipline". ESPN. Retrieved 7 August 2017.
  36. "SPFL monthly awards". www.spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. May 28, 2014. Archived from the original on 2016-05-31. Retrieved 2016-09-12.
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  38. "PFA Scotland Teams of the Year 2017". PFA Scotland. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  39. "2016/17 award for Morton manager". Scottish Professional Football League. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2017.
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