The 2015/16 Run-in

March 15, 2016

This aims to be a comprehensive guide to the final weeks of 2015/16 SPFL season. This page will be updated after each set of matches, and will cover the promotion and relegation issues in each of the four divisions.

Updated to include matches played on 1st May.

Premiership Title

The Premiership champions will enter the 2nd Qualifying Round of the Champions League.

Only Celtic and Aberdeen can still win the league.

8th May



Celtic will be champions if:

Celtic avoid defeat against Aberdeen (H).

Europa League

The Scottish Cup winners (Hibernian or Rangers) will qualify for the 2nd Qualifying Round of the Europa League.

The teams finishing in 2nd and 3rd in the Scottish Premiership will qualify for the 1st Qualifying Round of the Europa League.

Celtic, Aberdeen and Heart of Midlothian have all secured at least a Europa League spot via the league.

Premiership Relegation Play-offs

The club finishing 11th in the Premiership will enter the relegation play-offs.

It is still possible for Kilmarnock, Hamilton Accies or Partick Thistle to finish in the relegation play-off spot.

7th May

Partick Thistle will be safe from relegation if:

Partick Thistle beat Kilmarnock (A).

Hamilton Academical will be safe from relegation if:

Hamilton Accies beat Dundee (A) AND Kilmarnock lose to Partick Thistle (H).

Kilmarnock will be guaranteed to finish 11th if:

Kilmarnock lose to Partick Thistle (H) AND Hamilton Accies beat Dundee (A).

Premiership Automatic Relegation

Dundee United will finish 12th in the Premiership and will play in the Championship next season.

Championship Title

Rangers are the league champions, and will play in the Premiership next season.

Championship Promotion Play-offs

Falkirk, Hibernian and Raith Rovers finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively, and will enter the promotion play-offs along with the side finishing 11th in the Premiership.

The format is as follows:

Quarter-Final: Hibernian v Raith Rovers

Semi-Final: Falkirk v QF Winner

Final: 11th v SF Winner

All matches are played over two legs.

Championship Relegation Play-offs

Livingston will finish 9th in the Championship and will enter the relegation play-offs.

Championship Automatic Relegation

Alloa Athletic will finish 10th in the Championship, and will play in League 1 next season.

League 1 Title

Dunfermline Athletic are League 1 champions, and will play in the Championship next season.

League 1 Promotion Play-offs

Ayr United, Peterhead and Stranraer finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th will enter the promotion play-offs along with Livingston, who finished 9th in the Championship. The format is as follows:

Semi-Final: Ayr United v Peterhead & Livingston v Stranraer

Final: SF Winner 1 v SF Winner 2

League 1 Relegation Play-offs

Cowdenbeath finished 9th in League 1 and will enter the relegation play-offs.

League 1 Automatic Relegation

Forfar Athletic finished 10th in League 1, and will play in League 2 next season.

League 2 Title

East Fife are League 2 champions, and will play in League 1 next season.

League 2 Promotion Play-offs

Elgin City, Clyde and Queen’s Park finished 2nd, 3rd and 4th will enter the promotion play-offs along with Cowdenbeath, who finished 9th in League 1. The format is as follows:

Semi-Final: Elgin City v Clyde & Cowdenbeath v Queen’s Park

Final: SF Winner 1 v SF Winner 2

All matches are played over two legs.

League 2 Relegation Play-off

East Stirlingshire finished bottom of League 2, and will participate in the Pyramid Play-offs.

The winners of the Pyramid Play-off will participate in League 2 next season. If East Stirlingshire lose this play-off, then they will be relegated to the Lowland League.

Lowland League champions Edinburgh City defeated Highland League champions Cove Rangers in the play-off semi-final.

Final: East Stirlingshire v Edinburgh City

This tie will be played over two legs.