Aberdeen have sacked manager Jim Goodwin after Saturday’s 6-0 Scottish Premiership defeat by Hibernian.
The Irishman is under huge pressure following Monday’s 1-0 Scottish Cup defeat at sixth-placed Darvel.
Goodwin has been warned by the club’s board that they are “looking for an immediate response” after losing the Scottish League West Premier Division Championship.
Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Hibernian and Aberdeen
But the Dons were humiliated 6-0 at Easter Road, with the club announcing the 41-year-old’s departure 19 minutes after full-time.
A club statement said: “Following an unacceptable result following the World Cup break, the club has confirmed that they have parted ways with Jim Goodwin and first team assistant coach Lee Sharp with immediate effect.
Sky Sports News It is understood the Aberdeen board will discuss the club’s future and direction at a meeting on Sunday.
The Dons are expected to be on the agenda for the rest of the transfer window as they look to bring defenders to Pittodrie in this window.
A bid for Go Ahead Eagles centre-back Jay Idz has been rejected, but Aberdeen are in pre-contract negotiations with his agent.
Aberdeen, who have won just one of their 10 games in all competitions, have dropped to seventh place in the Scottish Premiership.
Goodwin will join from Scottish Premiership side St Mirren in February 2022, replacing Stephen Glass after less than a year in charge at Pittodrie.
But Aberdeen are looking for their fourth manager from 2021 after leaving Goodwin, Glass and Derek McInnes.
Emotional Dons Owner: ‘I’m ashamed, I’m humiliated!’
Dons chairman Cormac gave an emotional interview about Goodwin’s sacking
Aberdeen owner Dave Cormack spoke to Sky Sports News following Goodwin’s dismissal.
“I am lost for words to a man who is lost for words.
“I saw my fans there today, 1,700 of them supporting the team and singing the whole game, I’ve been a fan all my life and I’m just as embarrassed, humbled, shocked by the result as they are.
“Jim’s a good guy and he’s given everything here. I met him after the game and he came up to me and hugged me and said, ‘I know Dave, it’s just not enough.’ So we parted company for obvious reasons.”
“Since coming back from the World Cup, apart from one or two games, our form has been poor and some players have to take responsibility.
Goodwin is leaving Pitodrin after less than a year in charge
“For me personally, I’m a Dons fan and I’m 64 now. I’ve been going for almost 60 years. I take responsibility.
“At the end of the day, I’m the chairman of the club and I’ve overseen the changes we’ve made on the football side. It’s no consolation to the fans when they hear how good things are off the pitch with the trade, with fan involvement or our youth academies.
“They deserve better than that. I am absolutely determined to put this right and together with the board we will double down on our vision and strategy at the club, right down to the move to the stadium.
“The most important and critical thing in any business – and football is also a business – is to make sure you have the right people to execute in all aspects, and unfortunately, coming back from the World Cup, that’s just it. It was very challenging.
“At Hibernia, like the fans, I’m very disappointed and sad. That’s the message I want to give to the fans. That’s the message I want to give today and I’m very passionate about the club. It means everything. It’s our hometown and I’ve been there many times.
“As chairman, I’m finding the wrongs. I understand, but I’m determined to fix them.”
‘Goodwin’s sacking was inevitable’
Goodwin is the third Aberdeen boss to leave the club since 2021.
Sky Sports reporter Luke Shanley on Easter Road:
“It was inevitable. You could already see the ‘Goodwin Out’ banners before the game.
“So when it was 2-0 after 14 minutes, the fans weren’t chanting his name. They wanted him to leave the club and he went from bad to worse.
“This is a Hibs team who have struggled to score goals. They weren’t good themselves but they played well against Aberdeen. If you think Aberdeen lost 5-0 to Hearts, then there was Darvell’s result. Sixth place in Scottish football.
The statement came out in mid-week saying Aberdeen needed an immediate response. Well, if that’s the immediate reaction, not only does Jim Goodwin need to take a hard look at himself, but so do his players. .
“Hibs were very good, but it says a lot about Aberdeen that they were very poor. It was obvious.
“In the cave, he didn’t speak to the media in any official capacity, but before he left he came and said thank you for all your help. That’s when we knew it was time. The era of Jim Goodwin was over.”
Where can Aberdeen go next?
Sky Sports News reporter Luke Shanley:
“They have a game against St Mirren on Wednesday, so the games are thick and fast.
There is a transfer window that closes at midnight on Tuesday in Scotland and they have other big games like Motherwell and Celtic.
“So they really need to move, but after this statement was made during the week, the Aberdeen board is willing to give Goodwin a chance to move, but they want to think that they are starting to think about possible replacements. Things around Hibernian.
Someone needs to get in quickly to save the season. The league is so tight in the middle, you can easily get into the top six but you can easily get into the bottom 6. You can get fourth place. But what will happen in the Europa League places is very interesting now.
“A lot of teams are at the same level but for the money they spend they want to play teams like Aberdeen and Hibernian who haven’t had a good season. Hayes will be hoping to do that with today’s result. Aberdeen need to get someone in quickly and get this team going.” .
“They will be back at Pittodrie on Wednesday night and the home fans will be demanding a response.”