Chief Executive Alan Burrows spoke to the media on Tuesday alongside Jimmy Thelin who was officially unveiled as the new Aberdeen manager.
“We are all delighted Jimmy is here. It feels like it has been a long time coming. We made the appointment some time ago but the length of time highlights what Elfsborg thought of him. They were very keen to retain him for a period of time and we had to show some patience. I should reassure the Aberdeen fans, although he has just arrived here in person, there has been a whole bunch of work ongoing in the background preparing for the upcoming season both in terms of the squad preparation and transfers.
“Jimmy has done a fantastic job at the two clubs he has worked at in Sweden. He brought them both success. His philosophy and mentality in the game was very much shared by how we see the game being played. Also his mindset on player development. There was so much to like about him and so much aligned with what we set out to be the key criteria for this role.
“In some ways it has been 14 months in the waiting for Jimmy to be here. But now that he is here, we are really excited to see what he can do as Aberdeen manager.”
‘Given time and support, he can really drive success’
“We need to be prepared to be patient. This is a longer-term project. This will mean this is a building process.
“It might take a period of time to get going. What I’ve told Aberdeen fans I’ve met is this isn’t going to be something short term. Cleary we want to see progress, but this needs to be an appointment we get behind because Jimmy has demonstrated this at his previous clubs. Given time and support, he can really drive success.
“I get a sense from the Aberdeen fans there is an acceptance to this being a longer project. They also will want to see progress and there needs to be building blocks in place for a better season. Then hopefully really building towards something special under this manager.
“Although the recent managerial appointments have not been here long, I don’t think any of those managers can say they were not backed by the Chairman and the board. What we have tried to do as a football club is strengthen the squad and make serious investments in the playing squad and also infrastructure investments such as Cormack Park
“That will continue. We have a board who want to keep taking this club forward on and off the pitch. Off the pitch, there has been a lot of positive news there but clearly where we are judged, is what happens over 90 minutes on a Saturday.
“And that is the part we are really focussed on getting right. We have already recruited three players and the feedback on them has been very positive. We will continue to build on that during this transfer window but we know there is a job to be done and there will be more players to arrive for sure. It is an ongoing process with Jimmy and the recruitment team.”
‘Only move players on if it is right for Aberdeen FC’
“There have been no bids for Bojan Miovski.
“Aberdeen fans would like Bojan to be around for ever. He is a terrific top quality striker and he is a striker who is capable of playing in the top five leagues. We want him to be here but we are also realistic. What I will say, is we will drive the best value for Aberdeen football club. We operate a player trading model, and players like Lewis Ferguson and Ylber Ramadani will leave the football club, but what my job is, when they do leave, the proper value is realised by Aberdeen Football Club.
“There have been no bids for Duk.
“Players understand the model when they come here, particularly players we bring in from abroad. Duk’s been here for two years on a three-year contract. We will only move players on if the value is right for Aberdeen. We won’t be forced down an avenue by any situation by the length of contract. Duk is an Aberdeen player.
“With Connor Barron, what happens in these situations is that both clubs are effectively mandated to find a solution before the SPFL steps in and sets the value. Both clubs have to make counter proposals to each other and if they can’t agree in a middle point, it then goes to the SPFL.
“That’s the part in the process that’s going on at the minute. If that can’t be agreed and there isn’t agreement between the two clubs then we are fully prepared to go to a tribunal. It is our job to make sure we get the best value for any player that leaves and we will try and do that with Connor Barron.
“Ideally, in all walks of life, we would like to avoid situations where you have to go to tribunals but if we have to we will. From that point of view we’ve had experience with these tribunals before. Lewis Ferguson arrived from Hamilton Accies via an SPFL tribunal so we’ve got good experience in this situation and we have to utilise that again, we’ll do that.”
