ABERDEEN YANKEE DOODLE DANDY
Dons hero Bobby says Glass can deliver pass marks at Pittodrie if pupil Cormack seals deal
BOBBY CLARK hasn’t been shown Dave Cormack’s notes on his managerial hunt despite the Aberdeen legend once teaching the Dons chairman.
But it’s another former pupil of Clark’s who first made him step up and take notice of No.1 target Stephen Glass after dishing out top marks for his managerial qualities.
Former Pittodrie loanee Jon Gallagher worked under Clark at college side Notre Dame before moving to Atlanta United where Glass took him under his wing for the second string.
Aware of the Dons connection, Gallagher raved to Clark about former Aberdeen hero Glass, and that is enough for the 75-year-old to get excited about the potential appointment.
Glass hails from the City of Discovery and Clark believes his journey Stateside will have helped mould him into a potential top boss with the mix of cultures in American football.
He has already had some Latin influence at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with Argentines Gerardo Martino and Gabriel Heinze sandwiching Holland legend Frank de Boer’s spell at the club.
Glass stepped in to take charge of the first team following the Dutchman’s sacking last year but even at Atlanta United 2 in the USL – the tier below the MLS – Clark reckons the best teams would hold their own in the Scottish Premiership.
Cormack’s former PE teacher reckons his coaching education in America will have prepared Glass for a return home, with the 44-year-old eyeing Celtic captain Scott Brown to assist him.
Clark, who graduated from Jordanhill College with a degree in Physical Education during his glittering 17-year Reds career, said: “I taught Dave Cormack at Harlaw Academy.
“When I played for Aberdeen I trained in the morning and taught in the afternoon and he invited me to games occasionally but he hasn’t shared any information with me on the new manager so I have no inside information.
“But he’s a shrewd decision maker and Dave obviously knows Stephen well because he’s got a box at Atlanta United and they live near to each other so it’s no real surprise to see him linked.
“I actually sat at a game with Stephen at Pittodrie just before lockdown and he’s a really nice lad. He had Jon at Atlanta United 2 and Jon played for me for four yaers at Notre Dame so we spoke about that.
“Jon trained with the first team before joining up with Stephen’s squad to play in the league below the MLS. Jon obviously knew I’d played for Aberdeen and Stephen was the same so there was always that link.
“I don’t know Stephen well
enough as a coach but Jon absolutely loved him and thought very highly of him. And I watched quite a bit of Atlanta United 2 because Jon was playing.
“They were a good team and it’s a good league. It’s a big league so there’s plenty of competition. I would say the top end USL teams would hold their own with a lot of the Premiership teams so I don’t see it as being a big jump if Stephen is to be the man.
“If you’re a good coach then you’re a good coach. Did East Stirling help prepare Alex Ferguson for St Mirren and St Mirren for Aberdeen and Aberdeen for Manchester United?
“Every little bit helps along the line but if you’ve got it then you’ve got it. Frank was manager at Atlanta and when he was sacked Stephen stepped up and did a good job. Jon got most of his game time during that period.
“But they were always going to go for a big name – current Mexico boss Gerardo Martino came before De Boer – and they appointed Gabriel Heinze.
“I was very lucky to start my playing career under Eddie Turnbull and finish it under Alex and I had good people in between like Billy McNeill, Ally MacLeod and Jimmy Bonthrone.
“My Scottish background stood me in good stead but the good thing about America is there’s a lot of foreign influence with South Americans and Europeans. I learned a lot and I’m sure Stephen will be the same.”
The relationship between Derek McInnes and Cormack appeared to be strained towards the end and Clark believes a fresh start could be good for all parties.
He said: “The great thing is that if Dave decides Stephen is the man he’ll have a good rapport with him. The perception is that Derek was Stewart Milne’s man and it can be hard. This is now Dave’s choice and he knows Stephen better than anyone else.
“Derek did a great job and I was sorry to see him go. I thought Dave would have given him until the end of the season.
“I watched all the games on Red TV and they were having a tough time. Aberdeen are in a good position but sometimes a change is good and I hope that is the case for Derek and the club.”
Clark, whose son Jamie is boss of Washington Huskies, believes going to America can be hugely beneficial and he is a long-time ambassador of Scot Andrew Kean’s FirstPoint USA which offers scholarships.
He added: “I noticed Martin Rennie, another Scot, was linked with the job and he’s coaching Indy Eleven in the USL and he actually took Stephen out to play for Carolina RailHawks.”
● Released players can learn more about US scholarship opportunities and sign up for a virtual trial at firstpointusa.com.
ROY KEANE suffered a culture shock when he first arrived at Celtic but it’s the Hoops squad who would be in for a rude awakening if the Manchester United legend walked in to the dressing room as gaffer.
It’s no surprise Keane is back in the frame for the Parkhead gig after being linked with the role several times in the past and famously coming close to taking the reins back in 2014.
Keane was well down the road with talks with Celtic chiefs before deciding to turn down the position at the last minute amid concerns about selecting his own backroom team.
In the seven years since the Old Trafford hero has been in the dugout as Martin O’Neill’s No.2 for the Republic of Ireland but he’s not been his own man since a spell at Ipswich Town ended a decade ago.
The time could be right for a return though and with Dermot Desmond having already tried before, the Parkhead powerbroker is considering asking the question again.
This time Keane might well just be keen.
At least the Irish superstar will know what’s in store and he won’t be caught off guard the way he was when he pitched up as a player. Keane was hailed a hero when he signed but walked into a war zone as Hoops fans raged after watching their side dumped out of the Scottish Cup by Clyde. Keane described it in his book, saying: “It was a nightmare. “My first game and already the fans were up in arms and one of the staff was on the steps of Celtic Park, having to defend the manager. That was a nice gentle introduction. I said to myself, ‘Welcome to Hell’.” The midfield powerhouse didn’t know what he had let himself in for but former team-mate John Hartson is convinced it would be the men in his dressing room who would be on edge if the Irishman was to take charge. Hartson told OTB Sports: “Celtic have not put up a fight. “It is 21 points with seven games to go. Rangers have won the league before the split. “That is the type of manager that is needed. When we mention Roy
Keane, I think that Roy would be excellent.
“He would be well-respected among the players, he would have learned a lot in terms of what he has achieved up to now.
“He has come from an assistant role – I wouldn’t be concerned.
“You know me, if I didn’t think Roy was the person that could galvanise the team and get them going, get them organised, then I would be the first one to say that. I think Roy would be good.”
Hartson is not alone in thinking a Keane return to Celtic Park would be worth watching.
Former Republic of Ireland defender Richard Dunne reckons his old teammate is made for the role and his decade away from the dugout should not put anyone off.
Keane was a success as boss at Sunderland, where he took the Black Cats to the Premier League in his first job but he lasted just 100 days at Ipswich.
His time alongside O’Neill gave him a taste of being back in management and Dunne believes the temptation to go toe to toe with Steven Gerrard again will shine a spotlight on Scottish football.
He said: “It doesn’t matter that Roy Keane hasn’t managed a team in ten years, he could still be the perfect fit for Celtic.
“The sight of Roy in the dugout at Parkhead, going head to head with Steven Gerrard in a derby, would be brilliant to watch – two people who never held back as players and wouldn’t hold back as managers.
“Roy is older now and he has mellowed a bit, learned a bit more, and if Celtic decide to hire him, they are getting a Roy Keane who’s better than the one of ten years ago.”
Keane’s time at Sunderland was legendary with the team’s promotion push followed by some epic fall-outs with his squad.
Ex-Celt Stan Varga was part of the Sunderland promotion story 14 years ago.
He’s convinced Keane has mellowed over the years but would have a major impact in Glasgow.
The former Slovakia defender, who is managing in his homeland, said: “This is the biggest club Roy will have managed if he gets the job at Celtic.
“But look, he played at Manchester United for many years so he can handle the pressure at Celtic.
“United is one of the biggest clubs in the world so Glasgow won’t be a problem for him.
“He’s also played for Celtic so he knows what the club means to people.
“He did a great job at Sunderland because when he arrived we were bottom of the Championship.
“But we won the title that season and he took us into the Premier League. I really hope he can have a similar impact at Celtic.
“Roy’s a really good manager and he can have success there, which means winning the title but also performing well in Europe.
“Roy and Neil Lennon were very similar as players, they are the same type of characters.”
We were bottom but he came in and we won the title in that season VARGA ON BOSS KEANE’S IMPACT AT SUNDERLAND