Aberdeen considering under-contract candidates as they step up manager hunt

Aberdeen plan to talk to managers who are in positions elsewhere as they step up their search for a long-term appointment.

The Dons are looking to interview candidates this week and complete their search during the international break for what will be their fifth manager since Derek McInnes left three years ago.

Peter Leven is set to take charge of cinch Premiership games at Dundee on Wednesday and Motherwell on Saturday after Neil Warnock stepped aside following the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock at the weekend.

Chief executive Alan Burrows said: “The club, working with our partners, have compiled a shortlist with a combination of individuals we have identified that meet the key criteria we have agreed, and individuals that have expressed serious interest in the role.

“We plan to conduct a number of interviews this week and, in certain cases, seek permission to do so where managers are under contract elsewhere.

“Our aim is to appoint a first-team manager during the upcoming international break.

“In the meantime, Peter Leven will continue in interim charge, assisted by Scott Anderson and Craig Samson.”

Warnock had been appointed on February 5 to replace the sacked Barry Robson until the end of the season and allow the club to complete a review of its football structure but the 75-year-old departed without winning a league match.

The Dons have now gone 10 Premiership games without a win and sit third-bottom, four points above the danger zone.

Burrows detailed the progress of the “holistic review of our football operation”, which is being overseen by a consultancy firm run by Bernhard Peters, who coached Germany to two world hockey titles before moving into football in technical director roles at Hoffenheim and Hamburg.

The consultancy group is helping with the recruitment of the manager and a new technical director to support director of football Steven Gunn.

“Bernhard is widely recognised as one of the most successful youth academy/high performance architects in the industry,” Burrows said.

“We are extremely pleased that their report has validated a lot of very good policy, practice, and robust processes already in place within the club’s academy and wider football department.”

Burrows added that the consultants had identified changes that would “substantially enhance our current set-up” and were working to implement policies in training, scouting, recruitment, player pathway and performance.