Heart of Midlothian suffered final day heartbreak as a 3-1 defeat at Celtic Park cost them the Scottish championship. The Edinburgh side needed only a point to end their 64-year title drought but conceded twice late on. Despite this setback, Hearts finished with 80 points, a club record, and secured Champions League qualification for July.

Manager Derek McInnes collected the Scottish Football Writers' Association manager of the year award while processing the disappointment. Having led the table since September, Hearts ultimately finished two points behind Celtic. McInnes remained philosophical about the campaign's positives despite the ending.

The Tynecastle outfit demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the season. McInnes emphasized the foundation this campaign provides: "The intention now is to dust ourselves down and try and enjoy our break but be ready for the challenges ahead." With Champions League qualifiers looming, the manager expressed confidence his squad will make trophy challenging "the norm" for the club.