Aberdeen’s board must give manager Jim Goodwin the financial support to rebuild in the summer transfer window.
This season has been a step backwards for the club with confirmation of a bottom six finish for the first time since 2013.
Goodwin will want to bring in his own players for next season.
Chairman Dave Cormack and the Pittodrie board must back the manager’s bid to strengthen.
If a board takes on the responsibility of changing a manager then they have to support the new one’s attempt to turn fortunes around.
They must give Goodwin the support to build a squad that will get Aberdeen back into the top six and Europe next season.
There is a huge responsibility on Goodwin to bring in the type of player he believes will be right for Aberdeen.
Aberdeen’s 1-0 loss to Ross County confirmed they will see out the rest of the season in the bottom half of the table for the first time in nine years.
It shows what can happen if you get rid of a manager who has been consistent and at the club for a long time.
The decision to move former manager Derek McInnes on and employ Stephen Glass didn’t work.
Aberdeen appointed a young manager in Glass who was trying to make his mark in the game.
However, less than a year later, he was out of a job.
Glass tried to play a certain style of football the club are keen to employ – a passing game on the front foot.
Unfortunately it didn’t work out.
With a change in manager, you hope there will be that initial managerial bounce – but that hasn’t really happened so far for Goodwin.
The situation hasn’t really turned round and now Goodwin has a big summer window ahead of him.
However, before that inevitable rebuild this campaign still isn’t over.
First and foremost in the remaining five games there has to be some encouragement and hope for fans that next season will be better.
It is a big challenge for the new manager to turn things round on the back of a really disappointing season.
Finishing in the bottom six and losing out on potential European qualification is a massive blow for the club and its standing in Scottish football.
From a financial point of view, it is also a major blow.
The structure of European football now means that a fifth-placed finish in the Premiership could secure a European spot.
The financial rewards of European football are now gone for Aberdeen.
Trying to resurrect the enthusiasm of the fans in the remaining games of the season is going to be difficult.
Aberdeen are only six points away from St Johnstone, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.
And the Saints have suffered an absolutely dreadful campaign after the heights of last season when they won the Scottish Cup and League Cup.
I don’t think Aberdeen need many points in the remaining five games to be clear of the threat of the relegation play-offs.
However, two weeks ago I thought it would have been solely between St Johnstone and Dundee.
Then out of the blue St Johnstone delivered back-to-back victories against Livingston and Motherwell.
I think one victory in the post-split fixtures would be enough for Aberdeen to avoid that relegation play-off threat.
Aberdeen are good enough to get that.
However, you cannot discount anything in football.
When you are down there in the bottom six and the pressure is on, it can have a negative effect on players.
The manager has a huge job to make sure the pressure doesn’t hinder them and that they perform to their capabilities.
If this Aberdeen side play to their capabilities, which I don’t think they did against Ross County, then I think they will be okay.
I feel the squad is strong enough and should be able to handle the pressure.
But don’t take it as a given that relegation is not a possibility.
It is a very slim possibility that they can get dragged down there.
But it is still there, which is why performances – and results – are needed immediately.
Disappointment at Considine exit
I was surprised Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin opted not to keep long-serving defender Andy Considine at the club.
It looked as though Goodwin wanted to retain the defender, but then that seemed to turn round in a matter of days.
Considine leaving the club is very disappointing.
Scotland international Considine will now call time on his Dons career at the end of the campaign.
Ultimately it is the manager’s right to make decisions on players, but I thought Goodwin would retain Considine beyond the summer.
He has been the club’s Player of the Year on a number of occasions in recent campaigns.
Considine was very unfortunate to suffer a bad knee injury against Qarabag in August, but has battled back to fitness.
He is versatile and can left-back as well as centre-back in a two or three.
As well as that versatility, he also has a wealth of experience.
At 35, I don’t think he is too old not to be relied upon for another year or two.
Once the decision had been made that Considine was leaving, it had to be handled properly – and unfortunately it wasn’t.
Now Considine leaves under a little cloud.
When you have a player that has been at the club for so long and just come back from injury, it is a delicate situation. However, on this occasion it got out of control.
The controversy that arose over his departure was really unfortunate.
He has been a great servant for the club and is a hugely respected player within the game.
He would leave, I would hope, with everyone’s good wishes.
I’m sure Considine will get another club.
Thankfully he has fought his way back to fitness from that injury suffered in Azerbaijan on European duty earlier in the season.
He was running round the pitch at the end of the game on Saturday and is looking fit and moving well.
There will be clubs out there keeping an eye on Considine’s situation and possibly keen to talk to him about a move.
I still feel he has a lot to offer the game.
Referee got both penalty calls wrong
Referee Greg Aitken got both penalty calls wrong in Aberdeen’s 1-0 loss to Ross County.
The first incident was definitely a penalty for Ross County.
Regan Charles-Cook was brought down by Dons midfielder Connor Barron.
There is no doubt the Aberdeen youngster stuck his leg out.
Charles-Cook dropped the shoulder and went by him too easily. Contact was made and it was inside the box.
It was a penalty, but the referee didn’t give it. It was the wrong decision.
Yet again the referee got it wrong when awarding a penalty to the Staggies late on for hand ball by Jonny Hayes.
The Staggies clinching a place in the top-six, thanks to a @JosephHungbo penalty 🥶#cinchPrem | @RossCounty pic.twitter.com/3OW4aejDWv
— SPFL (@spfl) April 11, 2022
It was very unfortunate as the ball was driven at Hayes, who made no movement towards the ball.
It struck his hand, which was by his side.
The referee had a perfect view and yet still decided to award a penalty.
Ultimately justice was served as Ross County had been denied that definite penalty earlier on.
However, two wrongs do not make a right.