There have been several managerial changes in the Scottish Premier League this summer with almost half the clubs appointing new coaches.

Jimmy Calderwood quit Aberdeen after five years. On the final day of last season, he masterminded the Dons' 2-1 victory over Hibernian to steer the club to a place in the Europa League.

His five-year spell at Pittodrie ended in tears as he revealed that his relationship with the club's top officials had turned sour. Assistants Jimmy Nicholl and Sandy Clark also ended their association with the club.

Mark McGhee, who played for Aberdeen when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge, left his post at Motherwell to take over at Pittodrie. McGhee had spent two years at Fir Park.

Gordon Strachan quit Celtic after he felt that a section of fans didn't appreciate his work. During his four-year spell at Celtic Park, he steered the Bhoys to three consecutive league titles, one Scottish Cup and two League Cups. Strachan also led Celtic to new horizons in the Champions League.

After Strachan's departure, Celtic appointed Tony Mowbray as manager.

Dundee United have remained loyal to Craig Levein who has been at the helm since October 2006.

Falkirk rang the changes this summer after parting ways with John Hughes. Under Hughes, Falkirk finished second from bottom for the third successive season. Rookie manager Eddie May, who played for several Scottish clubs during his career, is the new man in charge at Falkirk. He will be assisted by Steven Pressley and Alex Smith.

Hamilton, who were promoted to the Premiership in 2008, have confirmed Billy Reid after he kept the club in the top flight. Reid is in his fourth season as Academicals boss.

Romanian Csabo Laszlo has been leading Hearts since July 2008. Last season he was voted manager of the year by the Scottish football writers.

Another club to change manager were Hibernian who sacked Mixu Paatelainen and appointed ex-Falkirk boss Hughes.

Hughes is Hibs' seventh manager since the turn of the millennium. Hibernian qualified for the championship pool last season.

In February 2002, Jim Jefferies began his managerial reign with Kilmarnock. After a disappointing spell with English club Bradford, Jefferies returned to Rugby Park. Kilmarnock are the fourth top club Jefferies has managed in Scotland. He started at Berwick (1998-1990), moved on to Falkirk for five years (from 1990) and stood the ground for another five years with Hearts.

Motherwell have also decided to go for a new face in Jim Gannon. The former Stockport manager has replaced McGhee. Before his four-year spell with Stockport, Gannon had managed Dundalk for one year.

Champions Rangers, who regained the title after a lapse of three seasons, pleaded with Walter Smith to stay put. In the previous season, Smith took Rangers to the final of the UEFA Cup.

Newly-promoted St Johnstone retained the services of Derek McInnes. The Saints returned to the Premier League after a seven-year absence.

St Mirren, who have moved to the new St Mirren Park, have been under the guidance of Gus MacPherson since 2003.

In Europe

Scotland's 10th position in the UEFA co-efficient rankings has guaranteed SPL winners Rangers an automatic place in the Champions League group stages.

Aberdeen, the fourth-placed team in the SPL, will start their Euro campaign in the third qualifying round of the Europa League, while third-placed Hearts secured a berth in the group stage.

Motherwell made it to the third round of the Europa League after beating Albania's Flamurtari 8-2 on aggregate.

This change in structure means that SPL runners-up Celtic will go into the final qualifying round of the Europa League if they fall to Dinamo Moscow in the third qualifying round of the Champions League.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Premier League kicks off on Saturday, August 15 with champions Rangers playing Falkirk at home.

Arch-rivals Celtic will travel to Aberdeen and Premier League newcomers St Johnstone will have home advantage against Motherwell.

The first derby between Rangers and Celtic is scheduled for October 3 at Ibrox Park.

Mowbray, the Celtic manager, will visit his ex-club Hibernian at Easter Road on August 29.

As in previous seasons the Premier League will, for the last five matches, split in two groups with the top six teams forming the Championship Pool and the rest going into the Relegation Pool.

The opening programme: Aberdeen vs Celtic ; Hibernian vs St Mirren; Kilmarnock vs Hamilton; Rangers vs Falkirk; St Johnstone vs Motherwell. Monday, August 17: Dundee Utd vs Hearts (20.45)

Club call

Aberdeen

Manager: Mark McGhee.

Ins: Reda Johnson, def from Amiens − undisclosed.

Celtic

Manager: Tony Mowbray.

Ins: Marc-Antoine Fortune, fwd from Nancy − £3.8m; Landry N'Guemo, mf from Nancy − loan; Lucasz Saluska, gk from Dundee United; Danny Fox, def from Coventry − undisclosed.

Dundee United

Manager: Craig Levein.

Ins: Steve Banks, gk from Hearts; Myrie-Williams Jennison, fwd from Bristol City − free; Danny Cadamarteri, mf from Huddersfield − free; Andy Webster, def from Rangers − loan; Damian Casalinouvo from Platense − free.

Falkirk

Manager: Eddie May.

Ins: Brian McLean, def from Motherwell − free; Marc Twaddle, def from Falkirk − £200,000; Ryan Flynn, def from Liverpool − loan; Alex MacDonald, mf from Burnley − loan; Danijel Marceta from Partizan Belgrade − loan.

Hamilton

Manager: Billy Reid.

Ins: Marvin Andrews from Raith − free; Tomas Cerny from Sigma Olomouc − £180,000.

Hearts

Manager: Czabo Laszlo.

Ins: Ian Black, gk from Inverness − free; Jesus Manuel Santa Abreu 'Suso', fwd from Tenerife − undisclosed; Dawid Kucharski, def from Lech Poznan − £500,000; Ismael Bouzid, fwd from Anakaragucu − undisclosed; David Witteveen, fwd from Salzburg − undisclosed.

Hibernian

Manager: John Hughes.

Ins: Thomas McCready, mf from Everton − free; Kevin McBride, mf from Falkirk − free; Daniel Galbriath, fwd from Manchester United − £300,000.

Kilmarnock

Manager: Jim Jefferies.

Ins: Graeme Owens, mf from Middlesbrough − undisclosed; Lee Robinson, def from Rangers − free.

Motherwell

Manager: Jim Gannon.

Ins: Steve Jennings, mf from Tranmere − free; Chris Humphrey, fwd from Shrewsbury − free; John Ruddy, gk from Everton − loan.

Rangers

Manager: Walter Smith.

St Johnstone

Manager: Derek McInnes.

Ins: Dave Mackay, fwd from Livingston − £50,000; Davidson Murray, mf from Livingston − £50,000; Graeme Smith, gk from Rangers − undisclosed; Kenny Deuchar, fwd from Hamilton − free; Danny Grainger, def from Dundee United − £120,000.

St Mirren

Manager: Gus MacPherson.

Ins: Lee Mair, def from Aberdeen − free; Michel Higdon, fwd from Falkirk − free.