The year started in the worst possible fashion with a Scottish Cup humiliation at Love Street. Okay, the team was changed a little from our usual line up (Alan McCormack at right back for example) but the shambolic nature of our capitulation was a huge let down. St Mirren destroyed us by 3-0 and the cup dream was over for another year.
We played well in January against both halves of the old firm but picked up no points and by the time we dropped more points at East End Park in a 1-1 draw our top six chances were hanging by threads. The signings of McGarry and Abel Thermeus (who? Exactly) were made and while McGarry seemed a useful squad player the Frenchman did little of note other than get sent off at Rugby Park in his short spell at
CIS Semi Final Team
Despite the horrific January we endured hopes were high when we travelled to Hampden for a League Cup semi final against Celtic. We took the lead but, despite being pegged back, we were the better team and we looked set to take the match into extra time. There is no point in dwelling on the Corrigan/Smith debacle but with a mediocre
The lost revenue was a blow as contract negotiations with Corrigan and Hammell looked grim. However the background events were sweetness and light compared to our form on the pitch - we took one home point out of nine from the lower half fixtures and our only victory came at the already relegated 
Terry Butcher decided his future lay elsewhere and he set off to manage Sydney FC down under. Stevie Hammell went to Southend but Corrigan signed on for another few years. Butcher was replaced by his former assistant Maurice Malpas. Many people may were nervous at the speed of Malpas' coronation as our manager but it was nearly universally agreed he had earned the opportunity and there were few voices of dissent when the appointment was made.
Mo's first problem was to fill the gaps created by the end of season departures and to appoint a second in command. Paul Hegarty was in post by the end of May but there was no news of signings for the playing staff by the time the club shut up shop for the summer break.
Review of 2006 Part 2