Pa Broon & Archie - confirmed on 2.5 year deals

[TENEMENTFUNSTER]

I'd say he's more likely trying to get something out of our board and as BB says is very likely to be the next manager.

[BigAl]

Merged

[mizer]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/aberdeen/8190173/Motherwell-manager-Craig-Brown-remains-favourite-for-the-Aberdeen-job-despite-denials-from-Fir-Park-chief.html

 

Motherwell manager Craig Brown remains favourite for the Aberdeen job despite denials from Fir Park chief

 

Sources close to the Pittodrie club say that the Dons’ chairman, Stewart Milne, has refused to rule out the veteran Motherwell pair as the prime targets to replace Mark McGhee, who was sacked last week – and is confident he can lure the former Scotland manager and his assistant to the Granite City.

 

Milne met Brown, 70, and Knox, 63, in Glasgow on Tuesday but the discussions did not advance beyond a general discussion of the prospects for both Aberdeen and Motherwell.

 

However, Milne believes that, for all Aberdeen’s current difficulties – they are joint bottom of the SPL on points along with Hamilton – he can provide Brown and Knox with considerably more flexibility and greater resources than anything Motherwell can command.

 

The Pittodrie chairman is attracted by the prospect of two safe pairs of hands – and the fact that they are working without contracts at Fir Park.

 

Brown confirmed on Wednesday that he and his assistant had met Milne. “All that was mentioned was the football potential of both clubs,” he said.

 

“We feel that there’s a lot of potential at Motherwell but it’s not a secret to say we have been a wee bit concerned at the lack of depth in our squad.

 

“Aberdeen seem to have more resources, a bigger player pool. I’m not saying it’s a better one – that remains to be seen.

 

“At the moment results would indicate it’s not better, but it’s bigger and we certainly could do with extending the Motherwell pool.

 

“We’re not putting a gun at their (the board’s) head. We know the financial situation and we’re sensitive to it. We just hope they will do the best and I think they are doing the best they can.

 

“The response from the Motherwell players is exceptional. The enthusiasm of these guys is a very big part in us wanting to stay at Motherwell.

 

“We know we could do with one or two more but when you have a group who do exactly as you tell them, to give that up would be quite a decision.”

 

Motherwell issued a bullish statement, through the Fir Park chief executive, Leann Dempster, which read: “Given the fantastic on-field success in 2010, it is not surprising that other clubs are taking an interest in our management team.

 

“With that in mind, we can confirm that representatives from Aberdeen Football Club met briefly with both Craig Brown and Archie Knox. However, both have decided to reject any approach and reiterated their commitment to Motherwell Football Club.

 

“We look forward to continued success under both men in the future.”

 

It is certainly the case that Brown and Knox have enjoyed their year at Fir Park and, in particular, working with the players.

 

However, although Brown was diplomatic in his expression of concern about the size of the Motherwell squad, he has been fretting for some time that resources have been pared to the bone.

 

Motherwell currently operate with seven players fewer than at this time last year, while Brown and Knox replaced a management team led by Jim Gannon that ran to four backroom staff.

 

The outlook would become considerably gloomier if Nick Blackman, Marc Fitzpatrick and Alan Gow were to depart during the January transfer window.

 

Blackman’s loan period from Blackburn Rovers expires next month as does Gow’s contract – the forward stated that one reason for joining Motherwell from Plymouth in the summer was Knox’s presence at Fir Park – while Fitzpatrick’s contract ends in May, so he is free to sign a pre-contract agreement elsewhere in January.

 

David McNamee, the defender who was released by Plymouth last summer, has been training with Motherwell and Brown is known to be keen to offer the former St Mirren man a deal.

 

Although Milne does have other candidates in mind to fill the vacancy at Pittodrie, he is confident that he can more than match anything the Motherwell chairman, John Boyle, might put on the table to satisfy Brown and Knox about the prospects of improving the Lanarkshire side.

 

[Kowalski]

He can take McNamee with him, we're needing full backs!

[TENEMENTFUNSTER]

He can take McNamee with him, we're needing full backs!

 

Yes.

[Kowalski]

Can see Leighton coming back, Brown was a big fan.

[BobbyBiscuit]

Can see Leighton coming back, Brown was a big fan.

 

Should have had him as number 1 in this though...

 

http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/perfectxi/30/article.aspx

[tlg1903]

I am happy with this news, as folk have said the only downside is he is 70 but he could do a couple of campaigns before doing a fergie and assisting in finding a successor.  Really hope this happens

[mizer]

Just had a look on mad and was surprised at the vitriol used by StandFreeEd on his editorial yesterday regarding Brown and Knox not coming to Pittodrie (he thought).

 

• Dons Avoid Brown Mess
  
• Aberdeen dodges a bullet
  
• appointing septuagenarian Brown would have been a bizarre move
  
• distinctly mediocre scraps
   
  

[BigAl]

Just had a look on mad and was surprised at the vitriol used by StandFreeEd on his editorial yesterday regarding Brown and Knox not coming to Pittodrie (he thought).

 

Very surprised at that and not like him.

Could be a substantial amount of humble pie or back tracking involved

[BobbyBiscuit]

Decision to be made today.

[Stewart]

Decision to be made today.

 

At their end or ours?

[Jute]

According to Evening Times Brown has turned us down for the 2nd time.

[BigAl]

According to Evening Times Brown has turned us down for the 2nd time.

 

copy and paste of article

 

Craig Brown has revealed he turned down the chance to take over at Aberdeen out of loyalty to his players at Motherwell and reluctance to move too far from his family.

 

Aberdeen’s determination to land Brown was underlined when chairman Stewart Milne made a second attempt to persuade him yesterday, having had a meeting on Tuesday which ended in disappointment.

 

Brown was flattered and promised to consider the renewed offer overnight, but he is certain to contact Milne today and tell him he will not be coming.

 

Former Scotland manager Brown, 70, was Aberdeen’s first choice and along with assistant Archie Knox he met Milne, director of football Willie Miller and managing director Duncan Fraser in Glasgow.

 

At Brown’s suggestion, the meeting took place at the office of his solicitor brother Jock.

 

Last night, the Well boss said he had been impressed by Milne and claimed the Aberdeen chairman did everything he could have done to make the offer attractive. He said: “You’d hardly get a bigger and better club outside the Old Firm, a club with bigger potential, than Aberdeen. It is a big club, a real football club.

 

“If everything else was equal I’d have done it, or if the response at Motherwell wasn’t as good as it is, we’d jump into Aberdeen. But we have such a young and vibrant group of players here.”

 

Even Aberdeen’s superior fanbase and wage bill could not tempt Brown and Knox, not least because they have reached a stage in their careers where they are weary of moving around the country.

 

“Archie has done 15 moves already. My family’s all in Ayrshire. My wee grandkids think Aberdeen’s in Outer Mongolia,” added Brown.

 

“Aberdeen’s a smashing city, but on balance we thought, having thought the whole thing over, that it wasn’t right.”

 

Scottish Under-21 manager Stark and former Hibs manager John Hughes will inevitably move up the list of candidates for the Dons job now.

 

Hamilton’s Billy Reid, Mixu Paatelainen at Kilmarnock, Gus MacPherson and Jocky Scott have also been linked with the post as well as several non-Scottish managers.

 

Another rumour had Scott and Alex Smith down to return in a resurrection of the co-managerial team which was in charge at Pittodrie from 1988 to 1991 and won two domestic cups.

 

 

[Kowalski]

But those quotes appear to be from last night?

[BobbyBiscuit]

Those quotes are just a re-hash of this morning's Herald, nothing new in them at all.

 

Stewart - the decision will be made from Brown & Knox.

[dave_min]

If he takes the job, his first home game will be against Motherwell...

 

Maybe he's waiting until after that?

[topcorner]

Been told from a Motherwell member of staff that Brown has recently just contacted Milne to confirm it's a definite no to the reconsideration. Next!

[Kowalski]

Another dignified interview from him:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/9274106.stm

 

Beginning to think this shouldn't have been played out in the press like this.  It's clear to other candidates that they would not be the first choice now.

[Penfold]

Another dignified interview from him:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/9274106.stm

 

Beginning to think this shouldn't have been played out in the press like this.  It's clear to other candidates that they would not be the first choice now.

 

Not as if it's been AFC's choice to air this in public. Willie Miller actually denied the meeting in Glasgow took place to the media before Motherwell came out on their site with an official statement. Everything else has come from Brown himself.

 

He's trying to leverage something at Motherwell.

[Ajja]

Chic Young now saying that he believes Brown is going to accept offer in next few hours according 'his information'.

 

Said it on Sportsound.

[glasgowdon]

Not as if it's been AFC's choice to air this in public. Willie Miller actually denied the meeting in Glasgow took place to the media before Motherwell came out on their site with an official statement. Everything else has come from Brown himself.

 

He's trying to leverage something at Motherwell.

 

Or at Aberdeen.

[mizer]

Chic Young now saying that he believes Brown is going to accept offer in next few hours according 'his information'.

 

Said it on Sportsound.

 

Sounds pretty confident.

[Stewart]

Sounds pretty confident.

 

That's what worries me.

[mizer]

That's what worries me.

 

Nothing coming out from our sources in Motherwell. If its happening he hasnt told anyone in Motherwell.