Ex-Aberdeen Women captain Kelly Forrest reckons whoever replaces Emma Hunter and Gavin Beith as manager will have big shoes to fill.
Hunter and Beith stepped down from their roles as co-managers, following Aberdeen’s 2-1 win over Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday.
The pair departed the club with the Dons sitting second bottom of SWPL 1, with seven points from 11 games.
Forrest, who retired at the end of last season, worked with Hunter throughout her entire Aberdeen tenure which began in Scotland’s third tier back in 2019.
She captained the side which won back-to-back titles and promotions under Hunter’s stewardship, as Aberdeen Women returned to the Scottish top-flight.
In Forrest’s final season before retirement, Hunter and Beith – who joined the club in September 2021 – led the team to a fifth-place finish in SWPL 1.
Forrest highlights Hunter’s passion for the game
To Forrest, it was Hunter’s passion for the women’s game which stood out to her over their three seasons together at the club.
The ex-skipper says Hunter’s enthusiasm was passed on to the entire squad as the former boss always motivated the team to progress and improve.
She said: “Emma’s passion for the game: you can’t buy passion for the game, you can buy expertise – but with Emma you got both.
“There is no question about the passion that she has for the women’s game. So, to find someone with that same level of passion, there will be big boots to fill.
“She was always so organised and always wanted us to outline what we wanted to achieve. On a weekly basis, it was a regiment approach to every game.
“And it was the common denominator for the whole team because we knew exactly how we were going to approach the game and the standard that was expected of us all.
“Right from the off, Emma and Harley (Hamdani, former co-manager) were given a huge task to get Aberdeen back where they belong, and she smashed it.
“There was a lot of pressure on them and us as players, but we did it.”
Forrest only worked with Beith for one season, but she says he was a perfect fit alongside Hunter and the team thanks to his experience and approachable nature.
She added: “Gavin came in with a huge depth of knowledge, especially in the women’s game, which was a massive asset to have last season in SWPL 1.
“He wasn’t someone who came in and wanted to take over. He fully respected the journey that we had been on prior to his arrival and slotted in perfectly with the team.
“Emma spoke so highly of Gavin, and that filled all the players with confidence. When I was there and part of the leadership group with the vice-captain, we all got on so well.”
The co-managers’ influence and what might happen next
Forrest recalls, even during the final stages of her playing career, eight seasons of which were spent at Aberdeen, she was still learning things from Hunter.
She said: “Emma taught me so much about football even in the later stages of my playing career – without a shadow of a doubt.
“She introduced me to so much and set a high standard right from the off. Emma is undoubtedly a great manager, and she’s proven that at the club.
“Emma took us up two divisions – back-to-back promotions – and then for them to guide us to fifth place last season in the top-flight, it’s an incredible achievement.”
Following Hunter and Beith’s last game in charge of the Dons at Tannadice, the players were visibly upset as the co-managers conducted their final post-match debrief.
The emotional scenes after the match were no surprise to Forrest as she explained how the Aberdeen players will feel about losing the duo.
Forrest said: “The tears speak for themselves – a lot of these girls have been pushed to the highest level because of Emma. She’s been their first professional coach.
“She’s developed them massively and there have been huge improvements.
“The girls will be upset because they have lost more than a football manager. She’s been so supportive to them off the pitch as well – these are the things people don’t see.
“I only played under Gavin for a short time, but he had such a good rapport with the players and always made an effort to talk to you and check-in – not just about football.”
So, who does Forrest think could replace Hunter and Beith?
The former skipper reckons it has to be someone who has knowledge of the women’s game.
Forrest explained: “I do think that having experience in the women’s game, especially with the phase that it’s at now, will be very important.
“Whoever comes in will have to understand how things work for the women’s game in Scotland – the opportunities here and the hurdles that they might face.
“They’ll need to have an awareness of how the whole system works and knowing how they can influence things like recruitment, etc. will be really important.”
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