Jim Goodwin insists Scott Brown will keep his assistant coaching title but his primary Aberdeen role will be on the pitch for the rest of the season.
It comes after he missed out on the St Mirren job to succeed Goodwin before they turned to Stephen Robinson.
Brown had been an assistant to former Dons manager Stephen Glass, alongside Allan Russell.
Goodwin admits his skipper will keep his same title but he won’t have the same input on the training pitch.
The new Aberdeen boss said: “He's kept his title so there's no big drama and I've had that done to me in the past where I was player/assistant at St Mirren.
"They made a big song and dance about taking the title off me and I didn't understand why that happened at the time
"So there's no chance of stripping Scott of his title but I have said to him that I'm very hands on as a manager.
"That means he might get a bit frustrated with a lack of opportunity on the training pitch as this is a key moment for me and the rest of the squad.
"I have to get my ideas over to the players and make them understand what I'm asking them to do.
"I don't have time to ask my assistant Lee Sharp , Scott Brown or Barry Robson who is also a coach here to be coming in taking bits and pieces.
"That's the way I've always worked and while I'll always lean on them for an opinion about how things can be done better there won't be much coaching.
"I'm a bit of a control freak and I like things done my way."
Brown is still getting over a hamstring issue but isn’t too far away from full fitness.Goodwin believes the experience of being interviewed for the St Mirren job will stand his skipper in good stead for the future.
The Dons boss, who will take his team into the weekend sellout with Dundee United, added: “I spoke to him about that. Aberdeen were approached by St Mirren about speaking to Scott and I had a conversation with him about it.
"I asked him if it was something he would be interested in and he said that at this stage of his career that would be the next step.
"We did the right thing as a club as we were fair to Scott and we wouldn't deny anybody the chance to do what they want to do."It didn't happen but I think St Mirren have made a terrific appointment as I have a lot of time for Stephen Robinson as we've had a lot of good battles on the touchline.
"But with regards to Scott he's got his head down, he's not overly disappointed so I've not had to pick him up off the floor.
"When the next one comes round he will be better prepared but he is a player and captain for Aberdeen who'll play a very influential role in the rest of this season."
