Jim McIntyre, John McGlynn and Barry Smith battle it out for award

Dunfermline Athletic will take their place in the Scottish Premier League next season. However, special circumstances mean that McIntyre's name is not necessarily already on the award, to be handed out this evening at a dinner in Glasgow.

Dundee manager Barry Smith is a strong contender, having helped steer his side away from what many felt would be inevitable relegation following the sanction of a 25-point penalty, after another plunge into administration. John McGlynn, whose Raith Rovers team finished in second place, is another who has reason to prepare an acceptance speech. Despite financial constraints, he kept his side in the promotion hunt until almost the very end. Indeed, although they finished ten points behind Dunfermline, Raith set the pace for much of the season and did not fall out of the top two places.

McGlynn has already been recognised by the Scottish PFA when named manager of the year by his peers earlier this month. The Raith manager, however, would appear to back McIntyre's case. "In my opinion these awards are for winners," he said, although he acknowledged that his side had "punched above their weight" last season. They will need to do so again next season after releasing 15 players earlier this month. "The way I am looking at it is it's a new challenge," said McGlynn. "We won't set unrealistic targets."

McGlynn accepted that the brutal nature of football means Raith could well have fallen short in what was their best opportunity to go up to the SPL. They let slip a 1-0 lead against great rivals Dunfermline in the third last game. "I wish we could turn the clock back and try again - but you can't. You get one chance and we blew it," he said.

He is proud to have received Craig Levein's vote as manager of the year, however. "If it comes from an international manager, it's a strong voice," he said. "Obviously I did work with Craig at Hearts for four years and learned an awful lot under him. Craig Levein would not say what he said cheaply or to do me a favour - he would not say it unless he believed it."

McIntyre will return from abroad for the dinner. Smith, meanwhile, was in situ at Dens Park yesterday, plotting the way ahead for a club who only recently flung off the restrictions of administration. Smith has already invited Neil McCann back after the Sky Sports pundit helped Dundee out for three games last season. In the first of these he scored an injury-time winner against Raith. "You'd be stupid to knock back someone of Neil's calibre," said Smith. "He is a great boy to have in the dressing room, has great ability and is still very fit. I have no problem with him taking some time to think about what he wants to do and what's best for him. He knows he is more than welcome here."

A modest Smith praised the "massive joint effort" between the fans and players. "There is a lot of mutual respect there, and it got us through a lot of games."