Scotland, ranked 14th by the UEFA’s table. Stirling Albion and Berwick Rangers finished at the bottom of Division 1, the second-level Scottish division, and relegated. They were to be replaced by Queen’s Park and Queen of the South the next season. Nothing much until 5th place.
Ayr United was 6th with 45 points – a stand alone team, 8 points ahead of the 7th placed Hamilton Academical, but 4 points behind the 5th placed team.
Five teams were way stronger than the rest of the league, competing for 2 promotional spots.
Motherwell ended 5th with 49 points, paying heavy price for its leaky defense. They finished with 3 points less than the 2nd placed – the battle was intense. Raith Rovers was 4th with 50 points, St. Johnstone – 3rd with 51 and finally the lucky boys clinched silver and promotion with 52 points.
Dundee was relegated the previous season, which was blamed largely on inconsistency: they Division 1 in 1978-79, then were immediately relegated, and now were going up again, but the start of the season was shaky. It was felt, by observers, that the team was not bad, but had great difficulty maintaining level form. Promotion was achieved, but with difficulty.
Hibernian were confident champions with 57 points, not really letting anybody challenging them. 24 wins, 9 ties, 6 losses, and 67-24 goal-difference. They were relegated from the Premier league the previous season, along with Dundee, and were eager to return to top flight. Their ‘pedigree’ required it, their tarnished reputation had to be polished, so observers said. Fine words, but Hibernian was not the same team they were years ago, reduced to minor role in Scottish football. Second division was the lowest point, of course, but the quick return to the top division did not mean the club was really improving.