The 2020–21 Scottish Championship was the eighth season of the Scottish Championship, the second tier of Scottish football.
Ten teams contested the league: Alloa Athletic, Arbroath, Ayr United, Dundee, Dunfermline Athletic, Greenock Morton, Heart of Midlothian, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Queen of the South and Raith Rovers.
In June 2020, eight of the ten clubs voted in favour of shortening the season from the usual 36 games to 27 (playing each other three instead of four times), with the season starting on 16 October 2020. This was done to reduce costs in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Teams The following teams changed division after the 2019–20 season.
To Championship Promoted from League One Raith Rovers Relegated from the Premiership Heart of Midlothian
From Championship Relegated to League One Partick Thistle Promoted to the Premiership Dundee United
Stadia and locations Alloa AthleticArbroathAyr UnitedDundeeRecreation ParkGayfield ParkSomerset ParkDens ParkCapacity: 3,100Capacity: 6,600Capacity: 10,185Capacity: 11,775Dunfermline AthleticGreenock MortonEast End ParkCappielowCapacity: 11,480Capacity: 11,589Heart of MidlothianInverness Caledonian ThistleQueen of the SouthRaith RoversTynecastle ParkCaledonian StadiumPalmerston Park Stark's ParkCapacity: 19,852Capacity: 7,750Capacity: 8,690 Capacity: 8,867
Personnel and kits Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsorAlloa Athletic PendleNorthern Gas and PowerArbroath PendleMegatechAyr United HummelBitcoin BCHDundee MacronCrown Engineering ServicesDunfermline Athletic JomaSRJ WindowsGreenock Morton est 1874MillionsHeart of Midlothian UmbroSave the ChildrenInverness CT Neil McCann (interim) Puma ILI GroupQueen of the South MacronBP's TaxisRaith Rovers Jomavalmcdermid.com(Home)TAG (Away)
Managerial changes Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment Heart of Midlothian Daniel Stendel End of contract 21 June 2020 Pre-season Robbie Neilson 21 June 2020 Greenock Morton David Hopkin Resigned 10 December 2020 7th Anton McElhone (interim) 10 December 2020Inverness CT John Robertson Compassionate leave22 February 20217th Neil McCann (interim)23 February 2021 Ayr United Mark Kerr Mutual consent 28 February 2021 9th David Hopkin 11 March 2021 Greenock Morton Anton McElhone End of interim 10 March 2021 6th Gus MacPherson 10 March 2021
League summary League table
Results Teams play each other three times, twice in the first two thirds of the season (home and away) and once in the last third of the season, making a total of 135 games, with each team playing 27.
First two thirds of season (Matches 1–18)
Last third of season (Matches 19–27)
Season statistics Scoring
Top scorers
RankPlayerClubGoals1 Liam BoyceHearts142 Declan McManusDunfermline Athletic9 Craig WightonHearts & Dunfermline Athletic Nikolay TodorovInverness Caledonian Thistle Ayo ObileyeQueen of the South6 Jack HamiltonArbroath8 Jason CummingsDundee Osman SowDundee Kevin O'HaraDunfermline Athletic Connor ShieldsQueen of the South Source:
Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstScore Date Kevin O'HaraDunfermline AthleticAlloa Athletic4–1 (A)24 October 2020 Osman SowDundeeQueen of the South3–1 (A)26 December 2020 Steven NaismithHeartsArbroath3–1 (H)29 December 2020 Liam BoyceHeartsAlloa Athletic6–0 (H)9 April 2021
Attendances Games are mostly being played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Limited attendance is allowed at some grounds with strict conditions under the Scottish Government Tier system, dependent on the club's geographical location.
Awards
Monthly awards MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthRef.ManagerClubPlayerClubOctober Stevie Crawford Dunfermline Athletic Euan Murray Dunfermline AthleticNovember Stevie Crawford Dunfermline Athletic Kyle Turner Dunfermline AthleticDecember Robbie Neilson Heart of Midlothian Charlie Adam DundeeJanuary Allan Johnston Queen of the South Connor Shields Queen of the SouthFebruary Dick Campbell Arbroath Willie Gibson Queen of the SouthMarch James McPake Dundee David CarsonInverness Caledonian ThistleApril Robbie Neilson Heart of Midlothian Jack Hamilton Arbroath
End-of-season awards Manager of the YearPlayer of the YearManagerClubPlayerClub James McPake Dundee Charlie Adam Dundee
Championship play-offs The second bottom team (Greenock Morton) entered into a 4-team playoff with the 2nd-4th placed teams in 2020–21 Scottish League One. Cove Rangers and Airdrieonians have also secured playoff spots.
Semi-final First leg
Second leg
Final First leg
Second leg
References
External links Official website