Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has admitted that the club’s managerial situation has become ‘embarrassing’ — but insists they won’t be rushed into a new appointment.
Cormack also confirmed that former Mainz, Hertha Berlin, Dynamo Moscow and New York Red Bulls boss Sandro Schwarz is visiting the club just now and will attend tonight’s match against Celtic.
The Dons have been without a permanent manager since sacking Jimmy Thelin two months ago, with the club languishing in eighth place in the Premiership table.
It looked like a deal was in place for former Brann and Saint-Etienne boss Eirik Horneland to take charge last month, but talks with the Norwegian have been put on hold for the time being.
Schwarz has now emerged as the new frontrunner after being name-checked by Cormack in an update to supporters last night, but he is understood to be one of several candidates still under consideration.
‘Visiting yesterday and through the Celtic game is Sandro Schwarz, a German, ex-Bundesliga, coached in Russia, New York Red Bulls most recently,’ said Cormack of the 47-year-old.
Sandro Schwarz is currently in Aberdeen and will take in the match against Celtic at Pittodrie
‘He is visiting to check us out and vice versa. He’s a top, top candidate — Hertha Berlin, Mainz in the Bundesliga. He is here just now and he’s OK with me mentioning it.
‘Could he start now? That’s got to be determined. Listen, we could have hired a coach and put someone in place within one or two weeks [of Thelin being sacked in January].
‘But would they be a 10/10 fit? For me, it’s embarrassing that we’ve had to go through… this will be my sixth permanent appointment.
‘The average tenure of a manager in Scotland is 1.2 years. I’m not saying that’s acceptable but there is an expectation on performances.
‘From that perspective, we will take our time to get the right manager in place.’
Aberdeen continue to operate with Peter Leven as interim manager, assisted by Tony Docherty and Ian Burchnall in the backroom staff.
They confirmed the re-appointment of Darren Mowbray, who previously worked at the club between 2021-23, as their head of recruitment last night.
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack admits he is embarrassed by the club’s manager search
But fans are growing increasingly frustrated at the team’s poor form and slide down the league table in a season which looks like it is drifting away.
The Dons take on Celtic at Pittodrie tonight before the defence of their Scottish Cup sees them face Dunfermline at East End Park on Saturday night.
Cormack admits that there was a failure to build and kick on from last season’s cup win, but rejects the accusation that the season is being written off if they wait until summer to appoint a new manager.
‘It’s been really bitterly disappointing for all of us that we didn’t kick on in the summer,’ he continued. ‘It was a perfect opportunity, especially when you see how competitive the league is this year, and given the performances of Rangers and Celtic.
‘As far as addressing the new manager or head coach situation, let’s just talk a little bit about the process so people can understand.
‘Anyone that’s been involved in executive recruitment in different businesses will understand it’s a process, especially if you want to get the right coach in place.
‘We have already seen this season in the Scottish Premiership clubs sign a permanent manager, and they don’t last very long. So there’s no silver bullet to this.
‘The message I give to our supporters, and I do this with all my businesses, is it’s really important we get the right individual in place.
Norwegian Eirik Horneland had looked like the frontrunner but can’t commit until summer
‘I would say the preponderance of candidates who came forward want a fresh start, for various reasons, in the summer. They want a full pre-season to get instilled their methodologies and how they are going to work.
‘We had a shortlist of about four candidates. We narrowed that, but some of these guys aren’t necessarily ready or available to come and take a good look at Aberdeen.
‘With one of the shortlisted candidates, there’s a personal family challenge, and we have to respect that individual going through that process.
‘There is nobody here at the club who has written off this season. We still have the opportunity to retain the Scottish Cup.’
