Good grief! This is your 6th question on basically the same topic!
Many people habitually add a smiley onto the end of almost everything they write in emails, simply to seem upbeat. It doesn't necessarily 'mean' anything at all.
it may mean he supported you and no one else did
it may mean dont take it personally
it may mean that it wasnt that important for him and so shouldnt be for you
it may mean that you looked TERRIBLY disappointed and yo shouldnt be
it may mean they knew who they were gonna appoint and it wasnt gonna be you
and finally
he wish to go out for a drink
( I wd refuse)