DONS boss Jimmy Calderwood today defended his decision to allow Steve Lovell to leave.
Calderwood agrees with Falkirk manager John Hughes that Lovell – who is now in top form for the Bairns – could come back to haunt the Dons in Saturday’s SPL meeting.
But Calderwood believes he was correct to allow the striker, who was signed for £200,000 from Dundee in 2005 and scored 20 goals in 76 appearances, to quit Pittodrie in the summer on a free transfer.
Calderwood said: “My only regret is that things didn’t work out the way Steve and I hoped it would.
“I was chuffed when we signed him from Dundee because he is a quality player.
“Steve is one of the best finishers in the country and the decision to let him leave wasn’t made easily.
“I know it might come back to haunt me on Saturday, but that’s the way things can go in football.
“He has nothing to prove to me because I’m as disappointed as anyone that things didn’t go as we both wanted.
“It never happened for Steve, for various reasons, including the fact he was very unlucky with injuries.
“But he is a very dangerous striker, one of the best in Scotland when he is on his game.â€
Calderwood saw Lovell score as Falkirk lost 3-2 at Motherwell in their last match and has warned his own players their old team-mate have to snuffed out.
“It was a typical Steve goal and a reminder that he is capable of making something out of very little,†said Calderwood.
“My lads know they are going to have to work hard to make sure he doesn’t do any damage again.â€
The Dons are under pressure because they must win to haul themselves off the foot of the SPL.
But Calderwood argued that the Bairns will also be feeling the heat.
Calderwood said: “They are on the same points as us, which suggests they haven’t started the season as well as they would have liked either.â€