Broony can be key to Dons bouncing back from challenging time
Without a win in the Premiership since August 8, and with six defeats in 13 games, Aberdeen have had better starts to a season,
But Jo n n y Hayes speaks from experience when he says Scott Brown is the perfect man to lead a side in times of trouble.
They were team-mates at Celtic from 2017 to 2020, with Dubliner Hayes witnessing his captain help prevent many a drama turning into a crisis.
And while acknowledging the Dons could seriously do with a win against St Mirren in Paisley today, he rails against the notion that the current run is anything other than temporary.
“We have had a couple of bad results, and we need to improve,” said Hayes.
“But that is football. There are always ups and downs.
“Off the top of my head, Liverpool and Manchester City are the only two teams that do not encounter too many bumps in the road.
“Even then, for those teams to have got to that stage, there was a process to get through.
“We’ve had a high turnover of players and staff over the last four or five months, so it is not going to click straight away.
“It’s tough for a new manager and new staff with half- a- dozen new signings.
“We started well, but came up against a good team in Europe. We’ve had a couple of bad results over the last four or five weeks. But that happens.
“When you are going through tough times, you have to help younger lads, who have not experienced them before.
“And this is where the manager will hope the experience of the squad comes into play. We have plenty of it.”
Hayes, now 34, and Brown, two years his senior, are the obvious examples.
The former continued: “Scott is Scott. I have not come across a better leader, or a better captain. I think anyone who has played alongside him would say the same.
“The manager will be looking to him because he is a senior figure, the leader in the dressing room, and the captain on match day.
“Ev e r y m a n a g e r w a n t s players like that – more than one, if you can – but unfortunately there are not many more players like Scott. Maybe one in every three or four teams, if you are lucky.
“He is great to have about the place as well. He has been through it all, some high highs
and some low lows. His experience will be vital.”
Brought to Pittodrie in the summer, Brown has had plenty of responsibility loaded upon his shoulders. In addition to being the captain, the former Scotland international is also an assistant to manager Stephen Glass.
“He calls himself a hybrid – that is a nickname he has given himself,” said Hayes, laughing at the notion. “I think he is focusing more on playing, really. I know how much he loves his football, and how hard it will be for him to go from player to coach. “Monday to Wednesday, he helps out with the coaching staff, and then
the days before the game, he focuses on being a player again, which I think is good for him.
“Speaking as a team- mate, I would like to see him go on to play as long as possible before making that serious transition into coaching.
“I think he has the legs for another couple of seasons. And he is also fun in there, so the longer he gets a strip, the better.”
Hayes insists there is a positive side to the run of shock results the top flight has thrown up in recent weeks.
“This is the most- competitive Premiership I have been involved in,” he said.
“Every squad has good players, and every team will be looking at finishing top-six.
“Teams who six or seven years ago you wouldn’t have thought of reaching that level – the likes of St Mirren, St Johnstone and Motherwell – are now all pushing to get up there.”