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