New Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin plans to keep Scott Brown amid St Mirren links

New Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin revealed his plans to keep Scott Brown amid speculation that the Dons captain was in the frame to fill the managerial position vacated by the Irishman at St Mirren.

The 40-year-old’s move from the Buddies to Aberdeen on a two-and-a-half-year deal was confirmed on Saturday morning and his tenure began with a 1-1 cinch Premiership draw against Motherwell at Fir Park.

Brown, who was brought to Aberdeen as player-coach by former boss Stephen Glass, missed the trip to Fir Park with an injury, where Vicente Besuijen’s first goal for the Pittodrie club was cancelled out by a Mark O’Hara strike in the second half.

Goodwin, who was “satisfied with the point, albeit not overly pleased because certainly Aberdeen expect to win and that is the bottom line”, said: “I had a brief conversation with Scott last night as club captain.

“I said I am looking forward to meeting him on Monday at the training centre and that’s where we are at.

“I know there’s speculation but I don’t know anything about it, I haven’t been told anything about it.

“Right now, I am planning on Scott being a player for me between now and the end of the season.

“His title is there as player-coach. I am very hands-on on the training pitch and I haven’t had time to look at the structure but I take the majority of sessions backed up by my assistant Lee Sharp.

“These are all conversations going forward but for now, Scott remains an Aberdeen player until somebody tells me different.”

Asked how big a wrench it had been to leave St Mirren, Goodwin added: “Everybody knows the affiliation I have for St Mirren and the love for the club.

“I’m not going to patronise the fans or the board. I’ve always been open and honest in one of my early interviews