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Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has launched a staggering defence of Dons manager Stephen Glass as their winless run extended to 10 games following Saturday’s defeat at Dundee, and the Pittodrie chief let rip in an incredible radio interview last night.
Cormack was appearing on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound opposite host Kenny Mcintyre and was quizzed on Glass’ appointment after Aberdeen fans made their feelings clear during and after the Dens Park defeat, with Glass insisting things have to change quickly if he is to remain in the Granite City.
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But Cormack seemed to see things differently and claimed Glass’ hiring from Atlanta’s second-string side as a piece of genius that was being widely hailed at the time.
Starting off claiming that he and Glass have the hardest jobs in Scottish football (outside the Old Firm) listening Dons fans couldn’t believe their ears as Cormack took aim at Aberdeen’s critics, saying:
“From my perspective it’s important, and being the chairman of Aberdeen, outside of Celtic and Rangers, is the toughest position and same with the manager as well.
“The last five games have been highly disappointing but when I look at the facts and the data, these are not just 10 new players, it’s a new system as well. We won five of the first six games, including two against a top Swedish team. You guys were all heralding Stephen as a great appointment until recently.”
While it was a pretty tame start, Cormack quickly went off the reservation, highlighting emails that apparently show how good an appointment Glass is and pointed to the fact that Aberdeen have one won trophy in quarter of a century as a reminder of how far off the Dons have been for years.
“OK. This is a reminder for all of us,” Cormack began. “Big picture, Aberdeen haven’t won the Scottish Cup for 31 years. We’ve won one League Cup in 26 years, the last one eight seasons ago when Rangers were in the fourth tier and Hearts and Hibs got relegated. The good news is this — we’ve got a very competitive league this year.
“We made it clear our strategy and vision was to play attacking football and that we give youth a chance. A fact is this: we spend over a million on our youth academy each year. Six months ago nobody believed our young players would get a chance. Look what we’ve done with Jack MacKenzie and Calvin Ramsay.
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“Whatever people say, I’ve got the emails to show what a good appointment it was at that stage. We’re being knocked for the Qarabag games — it’s been 14 seasons since Aberdeen got to a play-off round.
“The fans have been brilliant. I was at Dundee on Saturday, the fans have been brilliant and nobody has any issue with how they felt at the end of the game because we’re all frustrated. I’m looking at those five games in the data and I’m shaking my head and going: ‘how the hell have we not got most of those points’.
“In attack the possession isn’t being turned into goals. Some senior players, including some of those who have been dropped are 100 per cent behind the coaching staff. I hear from Andy Considine, Neil Simpson and Joe Lewis that we should be patient.”
When asked directly if Glass has the experience to turn things around, the Pittodrie chairman used Thomas Court’s impressive start at Dundee United and Callum Davidson’s historic double-winning season at St. Johnstone while claiming “all the evidence and all the data” at his disposal has him convinced Glass will turn things around soon.
Cormack also thinks his own business acumen gives him more insight into whether Glass is the right man to salvage things at Aberdeen as he insisted he kicks “every damn ball.”
“I did a one hour interview on Stephen’s appointment back in March of this year and it’s on our YouTube channel. I’ve been through this multiple times. You could ask the same question which was asked earlier in the year of Tam Courts. Look at Callum Davidson!
“We believe he’s going to turn it around through all the data and all the evidence we have.
“At the end of the day, if you follow your thought process, Hearts should have fired Robbie Neilson after Brora Rangers. They’ve been patient and that’s why my job is. I’m experienced enough running businesses. I wake up thinking about Aberdeen Football Club, I work all day on Aberdeen Football Club and I go to bed thinking about Aberdeen Football Club. I kick every damn ball.”
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Amid suggestions Cormack spoke to Aberdeen players ahead of Saturday’s game with Dundee, the Pittodrie chairman branded it “absolute rubbish” before turning his sights on host Kenny Mcintrye by complaining “nobody else” – particularly not people in the media – cares about Aberdeen (presumably Sportsound regular and noted Dons fan Richard Gordon was heartbroken).
“Absolute rubbish” Cormack blasted.
“Have you heard Stephen come on the radio and complain about Considine, Hedges? But we’re not going to come out with this ‘poor me, poor me’ attitude. We’ve got to fix this and stick together. Because nobody else, particularly people like you, Kenny, care about Aberdeen Football Club.
“Who else in Scottish football is out there trying to be transparent and open? But as usual, you’ve dominated the programme”
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