SIR ALEX OFFERS ADVICE TO DONS

PHONE calls from Sir Alex, Barry Robson as the next Marcelo Bielsa — and a defence of Aberdeen supporters’ right to demand better than just one trophy in 26 years. Dons chairman Dave Cormack provided an in-house ‘update’ for fans yesterday, including a promise that no one had been offered the manager’s job at Pittodrie. And he revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson had called with advice on landing a gaffer capable of beating the Old Firm in Glasgow. Explaining how the greatest manager in Aberdeen and Manchester United history had recommended adopting an oldschool siege mentality in his search for a successor to Derek McInnes, Cormack (right) told club media: ‘I talked to Sir Alex Ferguson. He called me on Friday and reminded me — and I agree with him — that Aberdeen Football Club is the hardest club to manage outside of Celtic and Rangers. And the hardest club to be chairman of, as he said. It’s a prestigious position for anyone. ‘He said to me: “Dave, as you look forward and make this appointment, the relationship between chairman and manager is critical. You make sure you do your due diligence and pick the right person to work with — and the right person for the club”. ‘He reminded me, as well, that there are lots of people — pundits in the media — who don’t want Aberdeen to do well, don’t want me to do well. Ignore that. ‘He said: “You find a coach that you can work with. Someone who will go to Glasgow and aim to beat Celtic and Rangers. Don’t look for second best”. ‘He asked me how I was feeling about it and I said: “Well, Sir Alex, I would say I’m nervous. But I’m really excited as well”. He said: “Good. That’s exactly the way it should be”. So Sir Alex has made himself available for me to use him as a sounding board. You can bet your bottom dollar — or pound — that I will take him up on that.’ Despite praising McInnes for dragging Aberdeen back from the ‘wilderness’ and making them regulars on the European stage, Cormack defended his right to demand better, explaining: ‘Some of the criticism from pundits and ex-players, of me and our fans, for expecting too much… there is a lot I would like to say. ‘But is it wrong of Aberdeen fans to want more than one trophy in 26 years?’ Cormack wasn’t asked about specific candidates by club media yesterday, meaning he didn’t get the chance to confirm or deny reports linking Stephen Glass, Scott Brown and other big names with the top job. But the Atlanta-based businessman, who intended to spend yesterday afternoon working through applications with the Aberdeen board, said there would be no snap decision. ‘Not one person has been offered the job, guaranteed the job,’ he insisted. ‘We will go through a process and it will take as long as it will take.’