Dons and fans are pulling together in crisis

Rob Wicks believes Aberdeen has forged a stronger partnership with its supporters during lockdown.

The Dons commercial director points to the uptake in AberDNA memberships and purchase of 5,000 season-tickets as signs the club is doing something right.

“The response we’ve seen from fans, whether that’s with season tickets or DNA memberships – we’ve just hit 6,000 members – has been just incredible,” said Wicks.

“Put that together with the initiatives we’re trying to drive, hopefully they’re going some way towards making people’s lives a little bit easier.

“From a non-football perspective, I’d like to think if you use social media sentiment as a baseline, the fans and the club have not been this close for a long time.

“The work that has gone on in the community, whether that’s a welfare call to someone who’s over 70 and considered vulnerable, or a food package into a home, or a call from the club’s chairman or one of the directors, I think those sorts of things have been tremendous.”

Dons players have taken a wage deferral and helped with things like food deliveries or speaking to corporate sponsors.

Wicks added: “From a football perspective, we were quick to act with salary deferrals and looking after the welfare of players as well.

“You can imagine, guys that are used to being out training and playing matches every week, that there’s challenges there. We’ve all stepped up – job descriptions have gone out the window and people have been out of their comfort zone.

“Overall it’s been very successful and hopefully puts the club in a good light.”