Chris Wilder is interested in talking to Aberdeen about their vacant managerial position. The former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough boss is a man a lot of the Red Army would like to see takeover at Pittodrie.
Jim Goodwin was fired following the 6-0 defeat at Hibs on Saturday, and Development Phase Manager Barry Robson has been put in interim charge for Wednesday’s home clash with St Mirren, and will be assisted by the coaching team of Steve Agnew and Scott Anderson. Wilder is unlikely to apply for the job but would be willing to listen if an approach was made by the Aberdeen hierarchy.
The 55-year-old has been out of a job since he left Middlesbrough last year and has already turned opportunities down to make an immediate return. The Englishman has a wealth of experience but really made his name at Sheffield United, where he led them into the Premier League playing an exciting brand of attacking football.
He has also worked his way up from the bottom, starting at Alfreton Town and Halifax before moving up to Oxford United and Halifax. Former Portsmouth manager Danny Cowley could also come into the mix. The former Lincoln and Huddersfield Town man was interviewed but pulled out of the running before Stephen Glass was appointed.
Former Aston Villa chief Paul Lambert and Celtic boss Neil Lennon are high in the betting. Lennon has been out of a job since he left Cypriot side Omonoia last year. Lennon could be tempted back but it would need to be a good offer, financially, for him to return to Scotland or England.
The 51-year-old is currently overseas and if he were to come back soon then he would need to pay the tax on his earnings in Cyprus. There is that hurdle and he would also need convincing that he would have the tools to do the job his own way.
The likes of Tam Courts would also be keen. He did well in his season at Dundee United where he led them into Europe before he left for Honved and then called his time there short. There won’t be a shortage of suitors with other favourites amongst the Aberdeen support, like Hammarby boss Marti Cifuentes, ex-Norwich chief Dean Smith and Central Coast Mariners boss Nick Montgomery. It remains to be seen what route the Aberdeen board decides to go down.
There are now very much in the early part of the process after Goodwin’s departure. They are looking to accept applications and could also approach other candidates themselves, like they did with Bodo Glimt manager Kjetil Knutesen last time out.
The pressure is now on the board after Stephen Glass and Goodwin were shown the door within a year of each other. The Dons board sacked Goodwin within 20 minutes of full-time after the 6-0 defeat at Easter Road.
Goodwin addressed his players in the away changing rooms and then came out and met chairman Dave Cormack, in a private room. The Irishman admitted results hadn’t been good enough and it was there that it was agreed his time was up.
Goodwin then collected his things, walked across the pitch and headed to a car at the other side of the stadium. An emotional Cormack then went to speak to the media.
Goodwin had been headhunted from St Mirren last February - despite having never guided a team to a top six Premiership finish. The Aberdeen board paid around £250,000 in compensation to get him but it was a move that never got off the ground.
There was no new manager bounce as the Dons finished 10th last season. Goodwin then took the controversial decision to let Andrew Considine leave and cleared his squad. He was heavily backed to buy the likes of Bojan Miovski, Duk, Jayden Richardson, Ylber Ramadani and Shayden Morris.
He went into the World Cup break in third although their shocking away form remained an issue and a defence that was never convincing. It was after the restart that things unravelled for Goodwin.
He won just one game and was knocked out of both cups, including the worst defeat in their history, the 1-0 defeat to Darvel last week. Goodwin managed to persuade the board to give him a stay of execution but they had no choice but to take the decision out of his hands on Saturday night.
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