Former Northern Ireland international sacked by Aberdeen with fellow countryman also leaving Scottish club
Former Northern Ireland international Stephen Robinson has been sacked by Aberdeen after less than eight months as the club’s manager – with fellow countryman Stephen Craigan also departing Pittodrie.
Robinson came under mounting pressure following Saturday’s 4-0 Scottish Premiership defeat to Hibernian – a result which left the Dons sitting just two points above bottom side Kilmarnock – but vowed to fight on and remain as boss “until I’m told otherwise”.
The club’s hierarchy released a statement on Monday afternoon confirming they’d “taken the decision to part company” with Robinson, who only had 28 games in the dugout.
Ex-Northern Ireland defender Craigan joined Robinson’s backroom staff in June, combining his senior role with overseeing the development of academy talent.
"Following a Board meeting, Aberdeen Football Club has today taken the decision to part company with Head Coach Stephen Robinson,” read a club statement. “Stephen leaves the Club alongside Assistant Head Coach Brian Kerr and First Team Coach Stephen Craigan.
"We thank them for their efforts during their time at Pittodrie and wish them every success for the future.
“Preparatory work to support the appointment of a new manager has been undertaken, and the recruitment process is ongoing.
"The focus will be on identifying the right candidate to lead the Club forward and deliver the progress expected across all areas of the football operation.
“Stuart Duff will assume interim charge of first team training while the Club continues its search for a new Head Coach.”
Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd insists Robinson wasn’t solely responsible for Aberdeen’s poor run.
"It’s not worked out the way he thought it would have,” said Boyd on Sky Sports. “He kept Aberdeen in the league and that has to be considered a success.
"They lost out in the semi-final last week and it hasn’t been the season Aberdeen would have expected.
"I don’t think the fans have taken to him, but I think there’s a lot of other factors that the Stephen Robinson regime at Aberdeen hasn’t worked.
"There’s a lot of individuals at Aberdeen who have to be held accountable because it hasn’t been great for Aberdeen.
"They’ll tell you they are the third biggest team in the country but right now they’re miles off it and they’ll have to start getting results.”