Celtic finally stumble over the line after a lacklustre race

So Celtic have finally won the SPL 2006/07, after a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. Gordon Strachan has emulated the feat of his predecessor, Martin O'Neill, and won back-to-back titles in his first two seasons at the club. His award as Scottish Players' Association Manager of the Year later on Sunday night was recognition for the fine job he has done rebuilding the Celtic squad while maintaining a dominance over the rest of Scottish football. It was his best signing, Shunsuke Nakamura, who secured the win with a trademark freekick right at the end of the game (he also won the player of the year award, too).

Yet clearly all is not well with Scottish football. Celtic's hold on the title was practically complete by Christmas, and it was only their recent poor form that kept Rangers in with a mathematical chance of snatching the championship until the split. Of Hearts, last season's pretenders to the crown, there was no sign. It is impossible not to let the paucity of competition take some of the shine off Celtic's latest trophy.

There were 8,000 Celtic fans down in Ayrshire to celebrate with the team on Sunday, limited by Kilmarnock's decision not to turn even more of their ground over to the visitors and annoy their season ticket holders, rather than a lack of seats. Kilmarnock really don't have anything more to play for this season - but, as Jim Jefferies sighed, this lack of revenue will hurt his plans for rebuilding his squad over the summer.

Even more depressing was the pitiful crowd at Pittodrie. They weren't helped by a tiny travelling support from Hibs, but less than 10,000 people turned up to watch Aberdeen try and secure European football for next season. Aberdeen have improved markedly in recent years, and yet their supporters just don't seem interested. It's true that they aren't the prettiest team to watch, but without more punters coming back and putting more money into the club, the chances of them attracting better players in the summer remain remote.

Something, it's clear, has got to change.