Brown and Knox take control at Aberdeen

THE new Aberdeen management team of Craig Brown and Archie Knox will not take charge of the side for this afternoon's Scottish Premier League match at Hearts, but Brown says the pair will be at Tynecastle "with our red scarves on, cheering the Dons on".

Aberdeen, looking for a new manager following the sacking of Mark McGhee, confirmed shortly after 7.30pm last night that Brown has signed a two-and-a-half year deal, while Knox was confirmed as his assistant. The pair quit their posts at Motherwell late on Thursday with a view to moving to Pittodrie.

"I don't think we would have left for any other club," said Brown last night. "I know it's an old cliche but it's absolutely true. The pull of Aberdeen and the lure of coming to a big club where there's great potential was too much to turn down."

Pittodrie coaches Neil Cooper and Neil Simpson have been working with the players for the past week and will take charge of the team for today's visit to Hearts. Brown and Knox will meet the players at lunchtime before sitting in the stands at Tynecastle. The pair will be unveiled at Pittodrie on Monday.

Motherwell have reported Aberdeen to the SPL over an alleged illegal approach but the Dons have denied any wrongdoing. Last night chairman Stewart Milne said: "An agent contacted the club last week with regard to Craig and Archie and we indicated we would be keen to talk.

"Craig subsequently informed Motherwell that Aberdeen were interested in speaking to him and the Fir Park club raised no objection.

"Motherwell's subsequent statement on Wednesday referred to the fact there had been discussions between the parties without any suggestion of criticism of ourselves and it was therefore a surprise to us and Craig to learn of the accusations of inappropriate conduct."