The Sunday Post (Newcastle)

Elfsborg star: We don’t want Dons to take Jimmy yet

- By Mark Walker SPORT@SUNDAYPOST.COM

Elfsborg ace Arber Zeneli insists they want incoming Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin to stay until June... despite suggestion­s he should join the Dons immediatel­y.

The Swedish boss is scheduled to take charge of the Pittodrie side after Elfsborg’s match against IFK Gothenburg on June 1.

But the Boras side have now lost three matches in a row since Thelin’s announceme­nt that he will move to Scotland and there has been speculatio­n in his homeland he may quit immediatel­y, with Elfsborg already having confirmed his successor, former player Oscar Hiljemark.

However, Kosovo internatio­nal Zeneli insists that won’t happen and they are determined to send him to Scottish football on a high.

He said: “It has been very clear to us that Jimmy will only leave in June.

“I don’t think his imminent departure has impacted us in any way, honestly.

“We’re trying to make the transition from him to the new manager as easy as possible, but unfortunat­ely, it’s not going our way right now.

“We’ve been a bit unlucky with mistakes and we’re being punished pretty hard for it.

“Only we can turn it around. Hopefully, it starts soon. We know our recent results have been unacceptab­le.

“I don’t want to speculate about whether it would be better if the new manager started immediatel­y, you would have to ask the club management that.

“But we know we are getting a new manager and Jimmy is leaving.

“Right now we are with Jimmy and we are all completely fighting for him and must give 100% for his sake and ours.

“There’s also pride at stake here – for both him and ourselves.”

 ?? ?? Aberdeen’s caretaker manager Peter Leven.
Aberdeen’s caretaker manager Peter Leven.
 ?? ?? Jimmy Thelin will leave Elfsborg for Aberdeen.
Jimmy Thelin will leave Elfsborg for Aberdeen.

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