'Exceptional' candidates identified for Dons vacancy

Published on Wednesday 27 May 2009 22:49

ABERDEEN have stepped up their search for a new manager, with director of football Willie Miller confident of having Jimmy Calderwood's successor in place "as soon as is practical".

The Pittodrie club parted company with Calderwood on Sunday following the 2-1 win over Hibernian in the final SPL game of the season that secured a place in the Europa League.

While Calderwood has spent the past few days sunning himself at his luxury villa in the Spanish resort of Santa Ponsa along with coaches Jimmy Nicholl and Sandy Clark, who were also dismissed, Miller and his fellow Pittodrie directors have been putting together a list of potential replacements.

Miller insists there are some "exceptional" candidates in the frame from across the globe. Speaking after a board meeting yesterday, he told the Aberdeen website: "The quality of candidate has been extremely high with a diverse geographic spread and we've begun the job of whittling down what was an extensive list, which was quite an arduous task given the standard.

"Meetings will continue as we look to reduce that list even further and while speed is important in terms of preparations for next season, it is even more crucial that we select the right man for what is a massive role.

"However, as I've said, the quality of applicant is exceptional and we're confident that we will have the right man in place as soon as is practical."

Of the candidates linked to the Pittodrie hot-seat, Motherwell manager Mark McGhee remains the 6-4 favourite with Scottish bookmaker McBookie.com, while another former Dons player, Eric Black, is at 9-2.

Sir Alex Ferguson's son, Darren, was also said to be in the frame to follow in his father's footsteps and take charge at Pittodrie but yesterday the Peterborough manager distanced himself from the post. "I still have friends in Aberdeen and one of them rang me yesterday to say I'd apparently been seen talking to Willie Miller, which made me laugh as it was news to me," said Ferguson.

"I've heard nothing from Aberdeen and I'm not interested at all. I have a job to do here and that's all I'm focusing on."

Calderwood's exit after five years in charge has not exactly been amicable. The club claimed the parting had been by "mutual consent" but a war of words erupted between Miller and Calderwood earlier this week after the manager accused directors of "plotting" against him.

Calderwood yesterday played down suggestions of a rift but there was a further strain on relations last night when Aberdeen's local paper, the Evening Express reported that two players had threatened to quit in the wake of the manager's exit.

The newspaper claimed that winger Sone Aluko and goalkeeper Jamie Langfield were "so angry" by the decision to axe Calderwood that they could walk out on the club. But both players responded to the report by contacting Aberdeen and pledging their futures to the side.

"I have two years of my contract left. I am very happy at the club," said 20-year-old Aluko, who this week won a call-up to the Nigeria squad for tomorrow's friendly international against the Republic of Ireland.

"I have much to thank Jimmy Calderwood for. He has done a lot for my career. But he has gone and that is football. We all need to move on. I am looking forward to working with whoever takes over the manager's job. I want the fans to know I am not going anywhere."

Langfield, who was voted Aberdeen's player of the season by supporters before the win over Hibs on Sunday, added: "I am very happy at Pittodrie. It really meant a lot the fans voted for me and I really appreciate the support they have given me. Jimmy Calderwood did a great job for Aberdeen and we were all shocked at the news on Sunday. However, we must draw a line under it and start looking ahead to the new season, a season that includes European football."

In a newspaper column on Tuesday, Calderwood said that some Pittodrie directors had given him the cold shoulder following surprise Scottish Cup defeats to Queen of the South and Dunfermline Athletic but, speaking from Spain yesterday, the 54-year-old insisted he had no problem with Miller or chairman Stewart Milne.

"Stewart and Willie are good guys and I have no ill feelings towards them," he said. "I never backtrack on things I've said, but I have no problems with the chairman or Willie. It's their club and they have only done what they think is best for it, so good luck to them."