Aberdeen director Willie Garner confirmed new manager Jimmy Thelin has already been working on landing summer signings.
Swede Thelin officially started his Aberdeen career today (Monday), having agreed a three-year contact to manage the Reds.
The 46-year-old was confirmed as Reds manager on April 16, but opted to remain at Allsvenskan club Elfsborg until the Swedish top-flight entered a summer break.
Thelin called time on his seven-year career at Elfsborg with a 1-0 away loss to IFK Goteborg on Saturday.
However, Garner revealed Thelin was in regular contact with Pittodrie chief executive Alan Burrows and director of football Steven Gunn during his final weeks at Elfsborg.
Pittodrie director Garner reckons that will allow the Swede to “hit the ground running” when he arrives at Pittodrie.
Garner is confident Thelin can bring the glory days back to Aberdeen and end the club’s trophy drought dating back to 2014.
Although Thelin’s Dons contract officially started on Monday, June 3, he will arrive in the Granite City next week.
However, work on Thelin’s Reds revolution is already moving at pace.
Garner said: “Some players will be leaving, some will be moving on.
“Getting some new bodies in – some fresh blood – is going to help us.
“Jimmy will be here sometime next week and he had his last game at the weekend against Gothenburg.
“Jimmy has managed a lot of games at a very good level. Scotland will be slightly different.
“However, Jimmy will be well versed in terms of the work he has done with Peter Leven, Steven Gunn and Alan Burrows to make sure that as soon as it starts he will hit the ground running.
“Jimmy is not just walking in the door next week and going: ‘Hello’.
“A lot of conversations have taken place in the background.”
‘Everyone pulling in the right direction’
Thelin recently called for unity from fans, the board and supporters in the bid to bring sustained success back to Aberdeen.
Garner insists the Pittodrie board fully back that vision.
Thelin will take Elfsborg assistant managers Christer Persson and Emir Bajrami with him to Pittodrie.
Garner, 68, said: “Jimmy recently said that part of his job is to make sure everyone is pulling in the right direction.
“As a club we totally support that – the fans, players, everybody going in the right direction to get success back to the club.
“That unity is there. I see that unity within the dressing room. And the disappointment about how the season went.
“There is a determination to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“So the players are going in the right direction.
“And having the guidance of someone who wants to make sure everyone is going in the right direction can only help.”
Thelin can end Dons’ trophy drought
Thelin led Elfsborg to a runners-up finish in the Swedish top-flight last season.
They were edged out in the title race by Malmo on goal-difference.
It was the second time Thelin had led the Boras-based club to a runners-up league finish. He also achieved that in 2020.
Meanwhile, the Dons have not won a trophy since the 2014 League Cup under Derek McInnes.
Garner is confident Thelin is the right manager to end that trophy drought.
He said: “Jimmy will understand exactly what it means to be the manager of Aberdeen football club.
“It is an honour to manage Aberdeen.
“It is a great football club that has had success – but not enough in the last 15 to 20 years.
“We have been in finals and semi-finals, and it is just about getting that next step.
“And Jimmy is the man that can do that.”
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