Joe Miller pleads for continuity at Aberdeen

By STUART BATHGATE
Published on 01/02/2013 00:00

JOE Miller enjoyed success with Aberdeen, including victories in the 1986 Scottish Cup and the 1995 League Cup. More recently, he has seen his old club endure a trophy drought: since that 2-0 win over Dundee 18 years ago, they have won nothing.

One of the main reasons, Miller believes, is the lack of continuity at management. At least part of the solution, he thinks, is to restore that continuity, by keeping Craig Brown and Archie Knox in place next season, and inviting them to bring a younger man on with the aim of him succeeding them in time.

“Craig has great contacts within the game built up over the years and can attract people to the club,” Miller said.

“The grumpy old men [Brown and Knox] have done a great job this year, and we should give them another year or two and see where they can go from here.

“It might be good to bring a younger head in beside them that can maybe bounce off them, and maybe they will do that and try to blood a successor to move ahead with. That is happening up and down the country, with clubs trying to get a young manager in to build, and stop this merry-go-round of sacking whether you are doing well or badly.

“There is no stability at any club. Managers are only lasting in the game a year, or maybe two years, then they move on or are sacked. You have to stick it out and ride the storm if you have the right man in position.

“Craig and Archie are not at the kind of age where they will be chasing [English] Premier League jobs and trying to further their careers. They are experienced guys and if you keep them there then that experience could stand Aberdeen in good stead for the coming years. If they get someone in who is Aberdeen-minded, then that could be something exciting for the future.”

As Aberdeen prepare to face Hibs in the Scottish Cup on Sunday, Miller added: “Since the 1995 League Cup, Aberdeen have been up and down. There have been times when you believed they would springboard, and for whatever reason that has just not happened.

“But they’re in good hands.”