Aberdeen are closing in on the appointment of Stephen Robinson as their new manager.
The Dons have triggered a release clause in the Northern Irishman’s contract with St Mirren and he is now expected to take charge at Pittodrie.
The 51-year-old travelled to the Granite City on Wednesday to finalise the details of his move.
Barring any late hitches, Aberdeen hope Robinson will be in the dugout for their home Premiership clash with Falkirk on Saturday.
The Dons have been without a permanent manager for over two months after sacking Jimmy Thelin in early January.
Aberdeen have turned to St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson as they look to save their season and avoid a relegation battle
Robinson is congratulated by wife Robyn after Saints’ League Cup success
They had hoped Peter Leven could steer the ship as interim boss until the end of the season, before then making a new appointment in the summer.
But, with the club sliding towards relegation trouble, last weekend’s shambolic 3-0 defeat to Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup proved to be the final straw.
Chairman Dave Cormack had insisted only last week that the club would not be rushed into appointing a new manager.
He had also name-checked Sandro Schwarz prior to last week’s game against Celtic at Pittodrie. The German was viewed as the new frontrunner after a move for Norwegian Eirik Horneland broke down last month due to personal reasons.
However, despite expressing a preference to wait until the end of the season, Cormack’s hand has been forced due to a dreadful run of form.
Robinson, who worked with Dons chief executive Alan Burrows during their time together at Motherwell, has now been identified as the man to save the club’s season.
‘Aberdeen FC has this morning been officially given permission to enter formal talks with St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson regarding the vacant managerial position,’ read a statement from the Dons. ‘The club will provide an update in due course.’
A St Mirren statement added: ‘Aberdeen have met a contractual clause in Stephen’s contract so the club has granted them permission to speak to him regarding the vacancy. We hope for a swift resolution to this matter and will keep supporters updated.’
Former Oldham, Motherwell and Morecambe boss Robinson has been in charge of Saints for four years after taking charge in February 2022.
He led the club to League Cup glory against Celtic last December after overseeing three consecutive top-six finishes in their previous three campaigns.
Robinson’s side are currently 10th in the Premiership after struggling for form in the league but sealed a return to Hampden last Sunday by defeating Partick Thistle in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup.
Ninth-placed Aberdeen have lost six of their last eight games in all competitions, including the cup defeat to Championship side Dunfermline.
The Dons host Falkirk on Saturday, while St Mirren look set to be without a manager when they host Rangers the following day.
