Seven days to go

Resident statto @splstats continues his countdown to the 2022/23 league season..

Cove Rangers will make their debut in the cinch Championship this season – they gained promotion after finishing 7 points clear of Airdrieonians at the top of last season’s cinch League 1. Four of the last 5 cinch League 1 champions have gone on to finish in the top 4 of the cinch Championship the next season.

Celtic number 7 Giorgos Giakoumakis finished last season with 13 goals in the cinch Premiership, making him joint top goalscorer alongside departed Ross County forward Regan Charles-Cook. The Greek forward scored his goals in just 21 appearances, which included 11 starts and 10 sub appearances.

Greenock Morton finished 7th in last season’s cinch Championship, shaking off a poor start to finish a comfortable five points clear of relegation. Dougie Imrie is looking forward to his first full campaign in charge, having turned around their fortunes last season with 7 wins and 6 draws in his 18 league matches in charge. Morton are the longest-serving side in the cinch Championship – last year was their 7th straight year in the division.

Dunfermline Athletic are back in cinch League 1 for the first time in 7 years following their relegation last season. The Pars won the 2015/16 League 1 title by a huge 18 point margin, and will be hoping for a repeat this time around under new boss James McPake, who already has a promotion on his CV from his time as Dundee manager.

East Fife will be playing in cinch League 2 for the first time in 7 years after finishing bottom of League 1 last season. The Fifers have won the fourth tier title on two previous occasions, in 2007/08 and 2015/16, and they will be hoping to secure a third this time around. Stevie Crawford and his side will be aiming to end an unwanted opening day hoodoo when they face Elgin City next week – incredibly the Fifers have not won their opening league fixture since 2009.