I fear the REAL manager of the year hasn't even played his hand yet – Kenny Miller

Timing is everything they say – and especially when it comes to award season.

The PFA Scotland dinner takes place tonight but, given the state of play with the manager-of-the-year contenders, we would probably be best sticking the starters back in the oven. Derek McInnes, Tony Docherty and John McGlynn are three thoroughly-deserving candidates.

Each has enjoyed an incredible season and fully merits a place on the three-man shortlist. However, I just can’t help but think the man who really deserves to be crowned this year’s top boss might not yet have played his hand. It’s fantastic that we have three managers from outwith the Old Firm vying for the prize. But are we seriously saying that if Philippe Clement can take this Rangers team and transform them from the mess they were at the start of the season into a Treble-winning outfit that he wouldn’t deserve to land the award?

Obviously, the big Belgian has some major work to do on that front but a clean sweep or even a cup Double would certainly rank him highly in my book. The same goes for Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, who has had to deal with some serious criticism – yet is still on course to add another league title and Scottish Cup to his impressive list of Parkhead honours.

Of course, this all comes down to the fact the awards dinner takes place before the season wraps up. It’s just a shame that we might risk having a deserving candidate missing out on an accolade that should be his. As I said, the trio in the running have performed heroics for their club this term.

Kilmarnock were a club crying out for both fresh energy and stability after burning through four managers in as many years – and that’s what they got with McInnes. It has been three seasons of solid progression under Del – promotion followed by a decent first year in the Premiership and now this term’s impressive surge into the top six.

Fourth and a return to Europe looks nailed on, which few round Rugby Park could have expected when they dropped down into the Championship back in 2021. I’ve never bought into the notion that a lack of managerial experience should count against a coach and Del’s old sidekick Tony Doc has proved that this season.

His first campaign as a boss couldn’t have gone any better at Dens Park, with his newly-promoted Dundee side over-achieving to finish in the top six. You couldn’t argue against him winning the award if his team pip St Mirren to a European berth, although that’s now unlikely after yesterday’s loss to the Buddies.

And it would be hard to complain either if McGlynn took the prize after seeing his Falkirk side wrap up an Invincible 36-game schedule in League One. But I’ve got to say I’m a little surprised at some of the gaffers who have been overlooked.

My old mate Steven Naismith had a right carry-on to deal with when he took the Hearts job over last summer. Let’s be honest, it all looked a mess with the club forced to pretend he wasn’t the man calling the shots while they were in European qualifiers due to his lack of a Pro-Licence.

Frankie McAvoy did the head coach act, with Naisy all the while whispering in his ear. But Steven has grown in stature and Hearts are rightly standing proud as best of the rest in third. OK, they had two goes at beating Rangers in Hampden semi-finals this season and came up short, but that can happen to any team.

They’ve been consistent, though, for most of the season and, for me, that’s down to the way Naismith has offered careful guidance.

Stephen Robinson is another who could have made the shortlist. Having broken St Mirren’s glass ceiling last year by leading them into the top six for the first time in the SPFL era, he’s now on course to make history in Paisley again as they eye up a return to Europe after a 37-year absence.

Talking of firsts, shouldn’t Gary Naysmith be considered for the honour having led Stenhousmuir to their first ever title win? All three of these guys can count themselves unlucky not to have made the cut, but what this debate does show is just how strong the current crop of managers are in Scotland.

If only we had the time to serve up both the full facts and the starters…