Former Aberdeen defender Willie Garner has been appointed to the Pittodrie board as a non-executive director.
Garner played for the Dons between 1975 and 1981, winning the Scottish League Cup in 1976 and the Scottish Premier Division in 1980.
The north-east outfit have endured their worst Premiership season in almost a decade and chairman Dave Cormack looks to turn the club's fortunes around.
And Garner, who was also assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson during a trophy-laden two year spell between 1984 and 1986, will come in to bring his extensive Scottish footballing and business experience to the Pittodrie boardroom with immediate effect.
Following his retirement from football, he pursued a second successful career in banking and finance with Lloyds and then Scottish Widows.
Most recently the 66-year-old has become a popular figure as a commentator and pundit on Aberdeen's RED TV.
Talking about the appointment, Cormack said: “A credible and authoritative commentator on the game, Willie is well-respected in footballing circles and the business community.
"His love for Aberdeen and his passion for and knowledge of the game made him an obvious candidate when we were looking to add depth and breadth to the board.
“Having recently retired from a successful business career in banking and finance, Willie will bring both commercial acumen and football knowledge to the board and provide valuable input and advice as we look to execute and deliver on the club’s strategy.”
While Garner added how much of a privilege it was to join the board at Pittodrie.
He said: “I’m incredibly honoured to join the board of Aberdeen.
“Having spent considerable time, in particular with the chairman, the directors and senior management at the club over the last few weeks, I’ve been really impressed by what I’ve seen. It’s obviously been a really tough season, but I’m convinced the vision and strategy is the right one for the club.
"This includes the new structure that’s been put in place within the football operation, player identification and recruitment department.
"The club also has first class training facilities which, along with its new stadium aspirations, bode well for the future. I do believe we’re on the right path to delivering the results the club and its fans want to see.
"It often takes a season or two when you go through a transition, however, I’m very excited to be joining the board at this time and looking forward to contributing to the club’s sustainable success.”
