Aberdeen boss wants new faces

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has said he will bring in new faces in January after being disappointed by his youngsters.

Although the Dons comprehensively beat basement-club Dundee United on Saturday (Oct 21), the average age of the bench was just 18 – highlighting Aberdeen’s lack of strength in depth.

Calderwood has said that there needs to be more experience at Pittodrie if the club are to do as well as he hopes.

Reports last week suggested that Rangers midfielder Gavin Rae could make the move in January (see here), but Calderwood admitted that it will be difficult to bring in all the players he wants because of the financial situation of most SPL clubs.

Calderwood told the Daily Record: ‘It’s frustrating that most of the youngsters haven’t done enough to get in the team. Kyle Macauley and Jamie Winter haven’t got back to the levels they were at last season.

‘But it will have to a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to strengthen the squad in January because of the club’s financial situation, most managers in the SPL are in the same boat.

‘There has been constant change since I came here and there are only five left in the first-team squad. That’s because we are very ambitious. Once players get to a certain level and don’t take it on then it’s time for them to go.’

Calderwood has also promised to keep taking risks to create exciting football in a bid to encourage fans back to Pittodrie.

The Dons are currently seventh in the SPL, but just three points off third-placed Rangers, and are at home against Hibs on Monday (Oct 30).