Copy of article in today's Times which makes interesting reading.

 

 

 

"My shelf life at Aberdeen may be close to expiry," says Jimmy Calderwood

 

Graham Spiers

 

Jimmy Calderwood admitted yesterday that his “shelf life†as Aberdeen manager was getting shorter by the month and that, whatever happens between now and the end of the season, the time was looming for him to consider a new challenge away from Pittodrie.

 

Calderwood and Aberdeen were still on a high yesterday after Sunday's epic 4-2 home win over Celtic, but it didn't stop the manager from reflecting on the career choices ahead of him. The 53-year-old is in his fifth season at Pittodrie and, despite having two-and-a-half years left on his contract, has doubts that he will be able to complete seven years in total as the Aberdeen manager.

 

“Five seasons in the modern game is a long time to be at one club,†Calderwood said. “This is a wonderful club, a fabulous club, but everyone needs fresh challenges. With every season that passes I think, 'My shelf life here is getting shorter and shorter.' You start thinking there is only so much you can do at one club.

 

“The secret is to keep freshening the squad up and getting new players in, and that aspect helps a wee bit. But I know the time is coming when I'll think, 'How much further can I take this club?' My contract says I've still got another two-and-a-half years to go here - it would make it a hell of a long time at the club.â€

 

There has been further speculation linking Calderwood with jobs in England and the Netherlands, and Utrecht have certainly made it known that they would like him to return. Calderwood says that he has rarely loved a job as much as at Pittodrie, and that leaving Aberdeen would be a wrench, though he can see the day coming.

 

“Right now we are sitting third in the league, and we've been in the top six all the time since I've been here - in fact we've finished fourth, sixth, third and fourth in my time at Aberdeen,†Calderwood said. “So it's not bad. We've been to the last 32 in Europe, and I would really love to get to a cup final and win a trophy.

 

“But four-and-a-half years seems a long time at a club. I think I'm now the longest-serving manager at Aberdeen since Sir Alex Ferguson was here, and you don't often see guys being four, five, six years at any club these days.

 

“Everyone faces choices, but you always need new challenges. Everybody has a shelf life. If we can stay in third place, and maybe get to a cup final, something like that would be great. But then I'd have to ask myself, how much further could I go?â€

 

Calderwood said that his own circumstances were brought home to him when he had a heated debate with Barry Nicholson, the midfield player, when he chose to leave Aberdeen at the end of last season.

 

“I had this debate with Barry when he left here. Barry said to me, 'Gaffer, I've seen every ground there is to see in Scotland, and I've seen them all at least ten times!' He wanted a change, and I couldn't argue with him, I understood him 100 per cent. Everybody needs freshness. I'm probably just the same.

 

“It would be hard for me, having been at Aberdeen, to go to certain clubs down in England. At Aberdeen you are used to chasing prizes and trying to get into Europe - that is the task facing you.

 

“I got an offer to go to Barnsley a couple of years ago but, no disrespect to them, but you cannot leave a club like Aberdeen for Barnsley. Having said that, you cannot get away from the shelf-life decision that faces you.â€

 

Aye very good. Which bus do you take from Tillydrone every day?

 

The special bus.

 

What time you want picked up?

 

You're seat's still damp by the way but you made a good job of licking that window clean. 

The special bus.

 

What time you want picked up?

 

You're seat's still damp by the way but you made a good job of licking that window clean.   

 

I didn't realise her husband was deid.

I told you he was in town with some Dutch people, he's going to Holland.

 

JWL

 

Yes, he knows no-one from there. Jimmy meeting Dutch people really means it is a done deal.

From the BBC

 

 

Calderwood cools Dons exit talk

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood

Calderwood says he has had no official contact from Norwich or Utrecht

 

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood says he has not been approached by Norwich or FC Utrecht amid speculation linking him with a move from the Dons.

 

"I've heard nothing from Norwich officially. Someone phoned to tell me about odds going from 25-1 to 6-1 which is amazing," he told BBC Sport.

 

"In terms of FC Utrecht there have been a few calls, but that's more from agents than officially from the club."

 

Calderwood, 53, joined Aberdeen from Dunfermline in May 2004.

 

Norwich are searching for a new manager after sacking Glenn Roeder on 14 January.

 

Calderwood, who recently took charge of his 200th game with the Dons, is the longest serving manager at Pittodrie since Sir Alex Ferguson.

 

He has previous managerial experience in Holland with Willem II and FC Nijmegen and on Sunday guided the Dons to their first home league win over Celtic since 2001 to lift them to third in the table.

 

Calderwood said he was disappointed by the sporadic criticism he and his backroom staff have received since taking over at Pittodrie.

 

"We think we've done quite well and we had a wonderful season last year," he said.

 

We've all had criticism. Even Walter Smith and Gordon Strachan are getting it. It seems to be the way that it's going now

 

Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood

 

"We've always been in the top six, so it's been a little bit annoying."

 

Following Craig Brewster's sacking as Inverness manager, Calderwood said no SPL boss was immune to pressure or flak from their supporters.

 

"We've all had it. Even Walter Smith and Gordon Strachan are getting it. It just seems to be the way that it's going now," he said.

 

"You just have to accept it, as long as it stays away from the players. It's annoying, but it's better if we take it rather than the players."

 

"It's a wonderful club to work for, but sometimes our supporters seem to think we've got a divine right to be there.

 

"The boys are doing well and I can't fault them in any way."

The is still a tone indicating he is at least considering a move. From what has been said by our Dutch specialists Utrecht wouldn't be all that attractive, presumably he's seen all the Dutch grounds "ten times over" too.

 

Norwich? Don't fucking start me! There's only 2 surnames in the fucking phone book down there!

 

If he went there he would be officially cunted.

Bryan Gunn has surely given himself a great chance of the norwich job, winning his first game as caretaker 4-0.... another win and hes got it, i'd bet!

Bryan Gunn has surely given himself a great chance of the norwich job, winning his first game as caretaker 4-0.... another win and hes got it, i'd bet!

 

I thinking you're jumping him.

My opinion of working in the city is that they're a fucking mickey mouse outfit, supported by cunts, it would be a step down for Calderwood.

 

Any Dutch caps?

I don’t know anything about them. 

Bryan Gunn has surely given himself a great chance of the norwich job, winning his first game as caretaker 4-0.... another win and hes got it, i'd bet!

 

Aye but they were saying the Big League Weekend that he would have a job for life at Norwich and if he took over as manager he might end up making an arse of it and getting the dunt.

Any Dutch caps?

I don’t know anything about them. 

 

Not currently.

 

I'm sure they've got a few quid now, some investors got involved last year so maybe that's why it's interesting for JC.

 

 

Hmm, seems to be a lot of this flying about this now.

 

I can't see how he wants a fresh challenge when he hasn't won anything.

 

 

Hmm, seems to be a lot of this flying about this now.

 

I can't see how he wants a fresh challenge when he hasn't won anything.

 

 

 

Would seem to be the accepted wisdom. 

Not currently.

 

I'm sure they've got a few quid now, some investors got involved last year so maybe that's why it's interesting for JC.

 

Off form today Bilb.

Hmm, seems to be a lot of this flying about this now.

 

I can't see how he wants a fresh challenge when he hasn't won anything.

 

Agreed. He left Dunfermline before he had won anything. I think he is doing a great job but unless he wins us something then it will be a chance missed by him if he leaves too early, cause he has a great chance to win something with us.

With the 4th highest budget in the league it stands to reason that we should be in the top 6 every season, personally I don't think that this should be considered as achieving something.  Clearly the european run last season exceeded expectations, but only because aberdeen as a club have under-achieved for so long...again I'm not convinced that we should'nt expect this sort of run on a fairly regular basis.

 

We have improved considerably since he took over, there can be no arguement about that but as for taking the club as far as is possible....this is a ridiculous statement as we have won nothing.

 

I think, by his comments that he wants to go and I cant say I really blame him, but if he really wants to leave with a feeling of achievment he has to at least win the cup.

 

The 3 year contract he recently signed now looks like good business as we would have to get compensation that would allow us to head hunt the next boss with less restriction.

 

I hope he stays though, as we are starting to look like we could at least pull away from the non OF teams.

 

Nah you just know there'll be a gentlemans agreement in there somewhere