NOGLASS CEILING
Stephen eyes early rise to Hampden
STEPHEN GLASS settled into the Aberdeen hotseat and immediately set his sights on taking his new team to the Scottish Cup Final.
The Dons manager exited quarantine for his first day at Cormack Park yesterday, along with assistant coach Allan Russell.
Glass will take charge of the team for the first time in Saturday’s Scottish Cup last-16 clash at home to Livingston.
But the 44-year-old already has ambitions of going all the way to Hampden.
Aberdeen have four league games left as they chase down third-placed Hibs – and want another four in the Cup.
Glass said: “I know the work ethic of the group and I can’t wait to get going.
“It’s a great challenge and that’s why we’re here – we want to push the club on.
“It’s in a great position, sitting in the latter rounds of the Cup.
“We thought it was going to be Sunday but it’s now Saturday and that’s another challenge that gets thrown at us.
“But the win at the weekend in the league means there is still a lot to play for.
“It’s eight massive games coming up and we want to win them for a successful end to the season.”
Glass is delighted to get England striker coach Russell on board now and they will be joined by Scott Brown in the summer.
Glass added: “He’s very well respected from the work he does with England, the set-pieces and with the forwards.
“But he’s so much more than that. He’s a well-rounded coach who has some great ideas and we’re very fortunate to have him.
“I worked hard to get Allan in and the club worked so hard. He’s giving up a lot, a lot of family time that he could have easily kept on. But he wants to be part of what’s going to happen at the club.”
Former Atlanta United 2 coach Glass spent the previous 10 days in self-isolation but he has put that time to good use.
The former Newcastle star said: “I watched, from a distance, the team doing well, which was great. We can’t wait to get our teeth into it now.
“I was able to watch the training, I’ve kept an eye on the games, getting a handle of the opposition that are coming up as well. There is a lot of footage you can get on top of.”
There will be changes for the visit of Davie Martindale’s Livi.
Glass said: “We can put a few things in their head, put a few pictures in their head from what we have seen going into the game against Livingston.
“Things we expect, principles we want to see that will hopefully be here for years.
“There will be a bit of a difference in the team on Saturday.
“I’m hopeful the results will bear fruit on that as well.”
Paul Sheerin took interim charge after Derek McInnes’ departure as Glass let him get on with it.
And the new gaffer praised him for his bravery as he threw kids including Jack MacKenzie, Calvin Ramsay and Ethan Ross in and still saw off St Johnstone in the league as well as Dumbarton in the Cup.
Glass, speaking on RedTV, said: “It was exciting when the goals went in.
“The team have done well over the last few weeks and Paul has done great.
“A lot of the young lads have been given opportunities and full debuts. Paul has been really brave in that respect.
“There were some full debuts and guys starting big, important games for the club. It’s important to put young players in.”