Aberdeen FC next manager timeline as Michael O'Neill admits he would 'assess' Pittodrie offer

Aberdeen are reportedly set to appoint their new boss within the next 72 hours with Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill admitting he would "assess" any offers that come his way after being linked with the vacant Pittodrie position.

The admission from the 54-year-old comes with speculation over a potential move to the north east with Dave Cormack and the board in the midst of the hunt for their next boss. Peter Leven has stepped into the hot seat for the second time this season in the Granite City with the Dons looking over their shoulder at the Scottish Premiership relegation zone following the ill-fated tenure of interim boss Neil Warnock.

The Dons board are looking to appoint Barry Robson’s permanent successor imminently with the restart of the league campaign just days away following the international break. And the Sunday Post claim that the Dons should reveal the identity of their new manager within the next 72 hours.

It is claimed that the search has been cut down to a three-man shortlist that contains one UK-based candidate and two from abroad. Amid the rising speculation O'Neill, who had a brief spell as an Aberdeen player back in 1998 on loan, was quizzed on what a return to club football would look like amid speculation with rumours of a Pittodrie return.

Speaking to The Scotsman he responded: “It is not something I would ever rule out. As I say, do the job you’re in and if another opportunity is presented to you, you assess it and you think, I would do that, it’s the right time or it’s not the right time.

"You have to be respectful to your existing employers and I always would be. Me going to Stoke was financially good for the IFA, they benefited out of that quite a bit. They were well compensated, which