With pre-season less than 4 weeks away, Aberdeen need to get a shift on to get a new manager in place.

There are a number of choices for managers who are out of a job at the moment with copies of applications able to be sent to Parkhead, Easter Road and Pittodrie. The ones that have arrived at the latter so far have included ones from former Scotland players, former international managers and coaches from England's top flight in the hope they will be the man to replace Jimmy Calderwood. Director of football Willie Miller has been "pleasantly surprised" by the standard of applicants. The club have been sifting the applicants as they are keen to make their move this week. The number of choices available to potential managers could prove problematic in terms of the favourite for the job with Mark McGhee also being touted for the job with Celtic. Other names mention in terms of the Pitodrie vacancy include former Ipswich boss Jim Magilton, Falkirk manager John Hughes and Wigan assistant Eric Black, whose future is uncertain as Latics boss Steve Bruce negotiates with Sunderland.

Miller said: "We've had applications from former international managers, former Scotland players, ex-international players from throughout Europe, people currently working in the Premiership, and applicants with UEFA Cup winners medals, and many have arrived from outside the United Kingdom, including Holland, Poland and even the Faroe Islands. On top of that, there has been a considerable number of former Aberdeen players interested in returning and it's obvious just what a high regard they hold the club in and what fond memories they have of their time here. The high quality of applicant only underlines the fact this is one of the top jobs in Scottish football and again I would emphasise that, while we want to make an appointment as soon as possible, it is absolutely vital that we undertake all the due diligence required to ensure the appointment is the correct one for Aberdeen Football Club."

Miller knows he is under pressure to make sure the club appoint a replacement who can take Aberdeen to being contenders for regular top three finishes and make a good fist of cup and European opportunities. any new man will not have much time to get established as the players return to training on June 29 with a pre-season tour of Austria pencilled in and the real work starting with the Europa League qualifiers on July 30. Miller said: "It's been quite a lengthy task simply going through the dozens of applications that have appeared on my desk over the past week or so. And, to be fair to anyone who has taken the trouble to apply, the club has been undertaking extensive background checks, which has also understandably added to the timescale."

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