The manager's office was vacated in April by Neil Warnock after his promise of promotion appeared dead in the water, and the club actually on the fringes of the relegation battle.

New signing Lee Peltier became club captain after existing leader Robert Snodgrass departed for Norwich City in the summer and was joined in the winter by fan favourite Luciano Becchio – both transfers much to the chagrin of the supporters.

With Becchio gone, the club's top scorers were last year's star Ross McCormack with eight goals and controversial winger El Hadji Diouf with seven who Warnock picked up on a free transfer at the start of the season.

The eight month, £52m takeover by Bahrain based GFH Capital saw the investment bank secure 100% shares of the club's parent company with four of its party joining the board of directors.

GFH deputy-CEO David Haigh become the public face for the boardroom with departing chairman Ken Bates taking a step back with a promise of the title club president secured for the end of the season.