Neil Warnock leaves Aberdeen: 'Club in chaos' or 'doing right thing'?
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'It's been an experience' - Warnock leaves Aberdeen
A "club in chaos" or doing the "right thing" - where are Aberdeen after their latest bombshell announcement?
Home fans at Pittodrie thought they had just watched Neil Warnock - and his players - turn a corner after an impressive Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Thirty-six minutes later, his 32-day reign was over.
With first-team coach Peter Leven resuming caretaker charge, chairman Dave Cormack is now looking appoint a fifth manager in just three years.
Cormack says that search is at an "advanced stage" - so does that mean Aberdeen have made the right call or does this further highlight disarray behind the scenes?
How Warnock's 32-day reign unfolded
Warnock was only appointed last month, but he still feels now is the "right time" go. He said he came in with the hope of trying to "steady the ship" at Pittodrie. Until Saturday, the ship was sinking.
Cup success against an impressive Kilmarnock side may well inject life into a miserable campaign, but there is a pile of work to be done in the league for whoever sees out the season.
In typical Warnock style, his tenure was full of press-room gags. There was a serious lack of Premiership points, though.
His reign started with a narrow defeat at Ibrox and that was followed by a Scottish Cup last-16 victory over fourth-tier Bonnyrigg Rose.
Warnock's side failed to kick on after that, going on to pick up just two points from the next five games - that leaves them 10th and just four points clear of the relegation play-off place.
Watch best of action as Aberdeen beat Kilmarnock
But Saturday's win felt like a potential turning point for the 75-year-old. It will now be up to Leven - or whoever is set to replace Warnock - to try to carry that forward.
"They have already got rid of three managers since Derek McInnes left and now they have got rid of an interim," said Sportsound pundit Michael Stewart.
"What does this say about the guys that put Warnock in interim charge until the end of the season that they've already had enough of him?
"It's a terrible look for Aberdeen. This will cast even more doubt over people who wanted the job. It will plant serious doubts in their mind."
Are Aberdeen board doing 'right thing'?
"Horrific", "nightmare" and "shambles" were some of the words used by Sportsound trio Stewart, Billy Dodds and Willie Miller in the midst of the immediate reaction.
But Allan Preston tried to counter their views by suggesting the club are perhaps looking at a bigger picture.
The Aberdeen board have been lambasted across a three-year spell during which five managers have departed Pittodrie.
The first of those was McInnes - the man standing in the away dugout on Saturday - followed by Stephen Glass, Jim Goodwin and Barry Robson, who all failed to last more than a year.
Warnock has become number five, but Preston feels this could point to more long-term thinking.
"If they decide to appoint someone in the next week or two, it is the right thing to do," the Sportsound pundit said. "It gets a new manager in place to have a look. They can then assess the squad for the summer."
'Warnock exit shows Aberdeen are mess behind scenes'
What do the fans think?
Robin: Warnock isn't the story, it's Cormack. He isn't fit to run our football club, he doesn't have the knowledge or experience. It started with the ludicrous appointment of Glass and it's gone downhill from there.
John: Totally disgusted at Cormack and the Aberdeen board. Shame on you all. Do all Aberdeen fans a favour and sell the club. Totally clueless and out your depth. Go now.
Graeme: I never wanted Warnock, but despite a poor run of league results you could see an improvement. It's quite the shock that he's stood down, but the real question is why? And who's in the frame to take over?
Derek: The whole thing has been a complete waste of time. Warnock didn't have a clue and seemed to treat the job as one big joke. Just like the board.
Richard: Unwise to part company with him just as he's turning them round. Hope it works as well for them as doing the same earlier in the season has done for Huddersfield.
Alasdair: We are an utter embarrassment. Who wants to join a team that is performing so badly?
Kenny: Total shambles. I did not want Warnock from the start. It will be a brave man that takes charge at Pittodrie with that board in charge. I wish the newcomer luck.
James: Was never the right appointment to start with, Paul Lambert would be a good choice even until the end of the season but ultimately the club needs stability.
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