It's been almost eight weeks' since Aberdeen pulled the trigger on Jim Goodwin's disastrous tenure but there has yet to be any indicator of who will replace him permanently in the Pittodrie dugout.
Under 18s boss Barry Robson has been given the reins on an interim basis, alongside experienced assistant Steve Agnew and Scott Anderson. They’ve got Aberdeen right back in the mix for third place and European qualification, with last Saturday's victory over Hearts putting them within just four points of the Gorgie side.
And with four wins from six games in charge, it leaves the Football Monitoring Board and new CEO Alan Burrows with a huge decision on their hands. Will they stick with what's going well and appoint Robson, or will they opt for experience with Ricardo Rodriquez, Steve Clarke and Geir Bakke among the names that have been floated as potential successors. Burrows teased an appointment "sooner rather than later" during a RED TV interview on March 2 but nothing has come to fruition.
Robson's record during this temporary spell has shown that he's capable of getting a tune out of a squad that flopped so badly under Goodwin, most notably being dumped out the Scottish Cup by non-league Darvel. But Aberdeen supporters have picked up on one potential problem that could go against Robson should he be in the Dons' hierarchy's consideration for the role.
That 'flaw' is the 44-year-old's lack of track record at senior management level, with another huge squad overhaul looming in the summer. Record Sport explores the size of the rebuild awaiting the new man at Pittodrie.
Loan reliance
Aberdeen have leaned more heavily on loan players than almost any top flight club in Europe this season, according to recent research by CIES Football Observatory. The eight men make up 32 per cent of the Dons' active squad and have differing chances of remaining at the club longer term.
Leighton Clarkson (Liverpool) - The playmaker has been a shining light in Aberdeen's season with his goals, assists and creativity and the chances of getting a player of such calibre remains slim.
Hayden Coulson (Middlesbrough) - The wing back looks unlikely to head back north after he signed a new deal during the January transfer window.
Jay Gorter (Ajax) - The Dutch stopper has indicated he'd be open to remaining at the Dons longer-term after receiving little contact from his parent club.
Dilan Markanday (Blackburn Rovers) - The winger arrived on Deadline Day with high praise from Rovers fans but his game time has been severely limited under Robson.
Patrik Myslovic (MSK Zilina) - Signed on a loan to buy deal but his only start has come in the Darvel humiliation. Could be one for a new manager to run the rule over.
Mattie Pollock (Watford) - A breath of fresh air in the backline and his interviews have suggested that the 21-year-old is loving life in the Granite City. Whether he can stay beyond the summer may be in the hands of former Aberdeen managerial candidate Chris Wilder at the Hornets.
Liam Scales (Celtic) - The central defender hasn't set the heather on fire at Pittodrie and was one of the main reasons for the defensive frailties during Goodwin's time in charge.
Graeme Shinnie (Wigan Athletic) - The loan player with the best chance of returning permanently, Shinnie has been installed as Aberdeen captain for the remainder of the season and appears to be settled back in the Granite City. The only stumbling block may be he's contracted to the Latics until summer 2024.
Contract decisions
The next manager has a decision to make on the future's of six players, including a couple of stalwarts, who’s deals expire in the summer. Usually discussions around extensions begin around April, so could that be on the mind's of chairman Dave Cormack and co when weighing up an appointment.
Dean Campbell - The Aberdeen youth graduate has spent the season on-loan at Stevenage but it appears his future could lie elsewhere.
Jonny Hayes - A modern day club legend and is more than likely one who will be handed an extension to coincide with the coaching roles he currently undertakes at Pittodrie.
Matty Kennedy - Has a good chance of being handed a new deal. The winger has played some of his best football this season and looks to have overcome early injury troubles.
Angus Macdonald - The no-nonsense defender has no doubt shored up the backline and has done himself no harm in his audition to be handed a longer-term contract.
Connor McLennan - The winger has been out on-loan at St Johnstone, where he's featured 21 times but only produced a single goal and assist.
Marley Watkins - When fully fit, the Welshman has shown he can be a valuable squad asset. He produced a sublime finish during the recent win over Dundee United and is often one of the first players to come off the bench under Robson.
Strike duo uncertainty
Luis 'Duk' Lopes was eased into life at Aberdeen after switch from Benfica B. He only made his first start against Hearts in October and now finds himself a cult hero, with 15 goals and an infamous chant after his name.
Bojan Miovski, who signed from MTK Budapest last summer, is more of a penalty box striker but has also impressed. He's netted 17 times and is reportedly attracting interest from Lazio. Between the pair, they have now scored 32 goals in all competitions and favourites among the Red Army.
With prolific form and talent comes potential suitors. The Dons have made a bit of cash in recent years from the sales of Ronald Hernandez, Calvin Ramsay, Lewis Ferguson, Ryan Hedges, Scott McKenna and Sam Cosgrove. However any deal to prise Duk and Miovski away would likely come at a significant cost.
Replying to an Aberdeen fans recent social media plea to stay put, Duk said: "My bro, I am very happy here. Giving the club a trophy is my big goal."
Besuijen return question
Dutch youth international Vicente Besuijen cut an isolated figure during the dying months of Goodwin's tenure and was subsequently shipped out to Excelsior Rotterdam in his homeland on Deadline Day. He only managed two appearances before picking up an injury and returning to Cormack Park for treatment.
The playmaker has an option to join the Eredivisie side in the summer. However, a recent interview indicated he had unfinished business at Aberdeen and would've never left the club at all if Goodwin had been dismissed earlier. He said: “That is the thing. The deal was already done. Aberdeen confirmed Jim had left but my deal to Excelsior was already agreed. If the manager had left earlier then I would definitely have stayed at Aberdeen.”
Fringe players
Shayden Morris, Dante Polvara, Jayden Richardson and Callum Roberts have all been on the periphery of the Aberdeen squad under both Goodwin and Robson.
None of the quartet have made a significant positive impact in red, albeit injuries have played their part. Morris is only 21 so has age on his side to merit a contract that runs until summer 2026 but the jury is out on whether he can force himself back into the plans.
Polvara is out on loan at Charleston Battery in the USA after struggling to make the Dons matchday squad for most of the campaign. While Richardson began the season as first choice Aberdeen right-back under Goodwin before a number of high-profile errors resulted in him featuring just once from the previous nine fixtures.
There's also got to be a decision on former club captain Anthony Stewart's Pittodrie future. The centre-back was shipped on-loan to MK Dons until the end of the season after being at the heart of a catastrophic run at the end of Goodwin's time in charge. He has a further year left on his contract and may be given a clean slate should he return under the right manager.
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