Jimmy Thelin to Aberdeen FC delay is 'ridiculous' as Michael Stewart slams more Pittodrie revisionism

Michael Stewart has blasted Aberdeen's decision to not bring in new manager Jimmy Thelin until the start of next season - despite the success of interim boss Peter Leven in easing the Dons relegation woes.

After a prolonged period of negotiations, it was announced that Thelin, 47, would take up the reins at Pittodrie on June 3, two days after his final game in charge of Swedish side Elfsborg, where he has been since 2017. That agreement has meant that first team coach Leven has continued in the hotseat for the remainder of the campaign, winning three and drawing two of his six Premiership games in charge and taking the Reds to within a whisker of the Scottish Cup final after losing out to Celtic in the last four on penalties.

That decent string of results has now removed any concerns Aberdeen had about dropping into the relegation play-off zone, with Saturday's 1-0 win over Motherwell at Pittodrie opening up an eight point gap between themselves and 11th placed Ross County. But in a heated debate with Tom English on live radio, former Hibs and Hearts midfielder Stewart has questioned the timing of Thelin's arrival and feels that the club have missed an opportunity to stand themselves in good stead going into the next season.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, he said: "This is a ridiculous conversation. As a manager why take over? A manager is coming into the club and you have an opportunity for him to have five games to have a look at the squad. There is no better opportunity than now. Not in June, now.

"Whether Aberdeen were going to get relegated or not, that is down to the manager in charge. Do you honestly think Jimmy Thelin is going to look at that team and think 'oh my word if I go in they could get relegated'.

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