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By Scott Coull
ABERDEEN legend Wille Miller is to be removed from the club’s board
of directors following the announcement yesterday of a major shake-up of
the Pittodrie club’s hierarchy.
Gordon Yule, currently president of
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed executive
vice chairman and will work alongside chief executive Duncan Fraser,
while Miller is one of five directors leaving their posts.
The
Scottish Premier League club released a statement explaining that Yule’s
appointment “strengthens the board and the executive team, as the club
prepares for the greatest challenge in its history”. Aberdeen are
planning to move from Pittodrie to a new stadium at Loirston in time for
the start of the 2014/15 season.
Miller enjoyed a sparkling
career as a player for the Dons. He made a club record 558 league
appearances and won three Premier Division titles, four Scottish Cups,
three League Cups and, most memorably, the European Cup Winners’ Cup and
Super Cup in 1983. He had a disappointing three-year spell as manager
between 1992 and 1995 but returned to the club when he joined the board
in 2004.
Speaking to BBC Scotland last night, chairman Stewart
Milne was asked how Miller – who, aside from a loan spell at Peterhead
as a teenager, has never worked for another football club – took the
news. Milne said: “He’s obviously disappointed. It came as a surprise to
him.”
As well as Miller, Ken Matheson and supporters
representative Chris Gavin will step down from the board, while Aberdeen
Asset Management pair Martin Gilbert and Hugh Little will depart
following transfer of the company’s shares in the club to other
individuals – predominantly the new board members.
Milne added:
“We need a step-change in how the club is run if we are to deliver our
vision of delivering the new stadium and soccer academy, and be in a
position to take full advantage of these fantastic new facilities when
we move.
“At the same time, we will be pushing forward our plan to
achieve substantial growth over the next three years, and George will
play a pivotal role in bringing about this step change.”
Yule, an
Aberdonian and life-long supporter of the club, is also Patron of the
Aberdeen branch of Befriend A Child, which provides support for deprived
and vulnerable children in the city. Milne continued: “George and
Duncan working together will give us an exceptionally strong executive
team.
“Duncan will continue to oversee the day-to-day running of
the football and non-football aspects of the club, and represent us at
SPL level where I believe he will play a major role as Scottish football
goes into a period of fundamental change. I strongly believe Aberdeen
Football Club must play a significant role in this period of
uncertainty.”
Much of the uncertainty centres on the future of
Rangers and whether the share owned by the soon-to-be liquidated club
can be transferred to allow the “newco” club to remain in the SPL. Milne
believes yesterday’s reshuffle puts Aberdeen in a stronger position to
deal with such issues.
“Clubs have always faced challenges which
vary in nature and gravity, none more so than what lies ahead over the
next few years,” said the chairman.
“We have an obligation to our
supporters, shareholders and all those associated with the club to
ensure we are fit for the future, and have the best resources available
to us”.
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