Aberdeen: Where now after ‘horrible’ cup exit at Dunfermline?

So where does Aberdeen go from here?

It seems certain that there will not be a permanent manager until the summer.

Erik Hornlund, who recently left Saint-Etienne, has been strongly linked but has said he will not take up any new job until at least the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Aberdeen boss Dave Cormack was forced to admit Sandro Schwarz was a candidate for the job after spotting the former New York Red Bulls coach at Pittodrie last week.

Former Aberdeen captain and manager Willie Miller believes another six-month wait for a new manager is too long.

He told BBC Scotland: “You are in a difficult situation now and there is no sign that a new manager will come in any time soon.” “So it’s a terrible situation to be in.

“The players were completely frustrated, outplayed, and ineffective.

“The last seven seasons have been twisted. When you don’t have a leader, it’s even worse.”

Former Dunfermline winger Ian McCall finds it surprising that Aberdeen did not go out of their way to secure Falkirk’s John McGlynn or Motherwell’s Jens Berthel Askew after both finished in the top six for less cash-rich clubs.

“It’s a big risk to take [Premiership] “The division without a manager is something that begs to be believed,” he said. “There seems to be no long-term plan.

“If you look at the recruiting process, there’s been a lot of success since then [Bojan] Maevsky? There are not many people I can see who have improved the team.”

In fact, of the 13 permanent signings and seven loan signings made over the two transfer windows this season, only four started at East End Park on Saturday.

Which is likely why Darren Mowbray, the talent scout who brought Mevski to Pittodrie before selling the striker to Girona, has been reappointed as Aberdeen’s head of recruitment following his time with Southampton.

Sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel has also been in charge since October, but Tom English, BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer, reported that the German was on social media “late at night, in the early hours of the morning, arguing with fans” after the cup exit.

“It’s just a symbol of where Aberdeen is,” he suggested. “The amount of money that has been spent, Dave Cormack’s money, investors’ money, fans’ money on a series of failed things.

“I can see them landing the way they’re going.”