Sport

Aberdeen in ‘very final stages’ of manager search

March 28, 2024

Aberdeen in ninth in the Premiership after winning at Motherwell last time out

Aberdeen are close to finding a new manager but an announcement before Saturday is “unlikely”, admits chief executive Alan Burrows.

The Pittodrie club had said their aim was to make an appointment during the international break, but Peter Leven is now set to continue his second interim spell at home to Ross County.

“The search is ongoing,” chief executive Alan Burrows told RedTV.

“I would like to think it is entering the very final stages.”

Almost two months have passed since Barry Robson became the fourth manager to depart Pittodrie in three years.

Since then Leven has been placed in caretaker charge either side of Neil Warnock’s five-week tenure.

“We had hoped to make an appointment during the international break, that looks unlikely,” added Burrows.

“The reality is that during this part of the process things happen all the time, that sometimes you expect and sometimes you don’t expect, and you have to react.

“There are so many different variables. Some people are in jobs, some aren’t, some are abroad, others aren’t.

“You have to be patient if you believe it’s the right guy. That’s where we are as a board. Don’t panic, don’t risk going to the wrong person. Let’s stick to the outcomes we want to achieve.

“We are still hopeful that the person we have earmarked is someone we can appoint very soon.

“I want to emphasise how important it is we get this appointment right rather than quick.

“While the whole process has gone on longer than anyone had hoped or anticipated, the key focus is to ensure the accuracy of the appointment. That it’s right in the long term.”

Leven steered Aberdeen to a first win in 12 Scottish Premiership games when they beat Motherwell 1-0 in their last outing before the international break.

But they remain just three points above Saturday’s visitors County, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.