Aberdeen’s board must appoint an experienced manager who has worked at a high level… and not interfere.
The new boss must be allowed to manage Aberdeen his way, rather than the way of a board of directors.
Chairman Dave Cormack and the board must allow Jim Goodwin’s replacement free rein to manage the club in his own image and stamp his personality on Aberdeen.
The previous two managers, Goodwin and Stephen Glass, were both inexperienced.
That has to change this time as the Reds look for a fourth manager in little more than two years.
Whoever is appointed new manager would ideally also have experience and knowledge of Scottish football.
Another fundamental for the right candidate is drive and determination.
Someone completely focused on building a reputation – but who also has a history of managing at a high level.
I’m sure Aberdeen will look to whittle down a short-list to three or four candidates.
Then, once they have chosen the new manager, they must put the entire force of the club behind him to bring success.
Former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder has been talked about as has Neil Lennon, who has experience.
Would Scotland manager Steve Clarke come to Aberdeen? I don’t know.
Ultimately it is up to Aberdeen to use their wealth of contacts to get the right man.
It depends what the photo-fit picture of the manager they want is.
The last two have been young, inexperienced managers with Goodwin and Stephen Glass.
This time they have to get an experienced boss and allow him to do what he wants.
The only parameter should be there must always be an opportunity for young, developed players to come through to the academy from the first team.
Goodwin exit allowed to become death by a thousand cuts
Chairman Cormack’s statement after the Hibs defeat was more refreshing than the statement following the Scottish Cup exit to Darvel.
Cormack made the right decision in axeing Goodwin after the Easter Road loss, although it was probably a week too late.
The process from Darvel to Hibs only lengthened the torture for Goodwin and it became death by a thousand cuts.
The performance at Easter Road on its own would almost give a board of directors thought for changing manager.
When you take the results after the winter break, the defensive inadequacies and shocking away form, there was no other option than parting company with Goodwin.
It is disappointing for Goodwin, as it was for Glass.
Two young managers in quick succession have been appointed and then had the guillotine fall upon them.
However, there are only so many times you can apologise for your players and it got to the stage when it was just a broken record.
Once it got to that stage, as it did with Goodwin, then there is only one option and that is to change managers.
Aberdeen are now without a manager with the transfer window set to close at midnight tomorrow.
It is not the ideal scenario.
Aberdeen have to be aware of relegation spectre
Unfortunately the harsh reality being dragged into the threat of a relegation battle cannot be ruled out.
There have been ill advised comments in the past where clubs believe they are too good to go down.
When you are losing to sixth-tier Darvel and being humiliated by Hibs and Hearts there is definitely the chance of being dragged down towards the relegation zone.
People can say Aberdeen are sitting in seventh, but they are only nine points ahead of bottom club Kilmarnock.
Aberdeen’s board and the new manager must beware of that.
The last thing you want is for a very fragile squad to drop down further down the table.
You don’t want to lose that gap.
The Dons have two home games this week that they must take advantage of so that they are not sucked down.
New manager facing a ‘tough job’
Whoever is eventually appointed new Aberdeen manager will have a tough job on his hands.
There is a lot of pain within the club over the past few weeks following a disastrous run of results.
Confidence will be rock bottom within the squad after three horrific results.
I never thought Aberdeen would sink to the extreme of the last few weeks.
The low of crashing out of the Scottish Cup to non-league Darvel was bad enough.
However, that shocking cup exit came in the middle of heavy losses in Edinburgh.
First they were overrun 5-0 at Hearts.
Then they were overwhelmed 6-0 by Hibs in a game where the manager’s future was on the line.
That Easter Road loss shows how low the morale was at that time within the dressing room.
When you are on bad run it does affect the players and you need leaders to step up.
Who are the leaders in this Reds team?
I don’t see leaders within this Aberdeen team.
When things go wrong I look around for people to take control on the pitch and unfortunately I haven’t seen that.
For now it is up to interim boss Barry Robson to get a reaction from the team in the short-term.
Robson will be assisted by Steve Agnew, who he worked with at Middlesbrough, and Aberdeen development phase coach Scott Anderson.
There are two games coming up this week at Pittodrie against St Mirren and Motherwell.
If Robson can lead the Dons to six points, it will hopefully start them on the path back to finishing in the top six.
📸 🔴
Barry Robson took first team training this morning at Cormack Park ahead of Wednesday's game with St Mirren. pic.twitter.com/AU0Ri1QLbI
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) January 30, 2023
Should Aberdeen finish outside the top six for a second successive season, it would be another disastrous year for the club.
Whoever is named the new manager will hopefully get Aberdeen back in a place where they can challenge for third spot in the league.
Two pressing problems for new boss
Aberdeen’s new manager will have two major problems to fix – the defensive frailty and the absence of the right mentality needed to win away from home.
The Dons went some way to addressing the glaring defensive issues before a new manager arrives by securing Mattie Pollock on loan from Watford.
Watford centre-back Pollock has played five times for the Championship club this season.
However, he is only a loan deal until the end of the season.
📸 Good to have you with us Mattie.#StandFree | @Mattiepollock4 pic.twitter.com/oSVUXg1idk
— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) January 29, 2023
The defensive frailty must be fixed on by the new manager on a long-term basis.
Aberdeen do not have that natural combination in defence.
That was blatantly clear in the 6-0 loss at Hibs.
You need a strong spine to a team with at least two or three reliable centre-backs, and Aberdeen do not have that.
Whoever comes in will have to assess the squad and will surely see that Aberdeen have been defensively weak all season.
That is where he starts – to build anything you need a foundation. The foundation of any team is being strong defensively.
Another problem that must be addressed is the shocking and embarrassing away form.
It takes a different attitude and mindset to get wins on the road.
The new manager must sort the character within the team so that they can play away from home.
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