 Jim Jefferies have no fresh concerns as they prepare for their first game in more than two weeks, against Aberdeen at home. Lee Wallace (knee), Andrew Driver (thigh) and David Obua (groin) have stepped up their training in the weather-enforced break and are nearing returns. Today will give Jefferies a chance to meet up with Craig Brown a few days earlier than he expected. Jefferies was due to meet the former Scotland chief next Tuesday at Fir Park, but after Brown's departure from Motherwell was confirmed the duo are set to meet up at Tynecastle. Brown will not be in charge of the Dons side today, leaving that to interim manager Neil Simpson and Neil Cooper. Jefferies praised the ambition of Brown and his assistant Archie Knox - Sir Alex Ferguson's assistant at Pittodrie in the 1980s - to try to rejuvenate Aberdeen, joint bottom of the SPl. Jefferies said: "He's ambitious at 70 - fantastic isn't it? He's a football man and a terrific bloke. It's terrific that they've got that will, drive and they know that Aberdeen are a big club. It seems to be the older you get the more you're in demand. Initially he came out and said it wasn't for him but he's a great appointment for them. With Archie (Knox) having the connection and the size of the club - it's a great appointment for Aberdeen.''
Brown and Knox have been confirmed as the new management team as successors to Mark McGhee, with Cooper and Simpson having taken charge of the first team in the interim. Jefferies has not been surprised by events at Pittodrie. Jefferies went on: "A couple of weeks ago things were looking bleak for him (McGhee). We knew even without the manager they'd be in a different mindset. They'll be eager to get out and show. There's always a reaction (in front of a new manager). We know it will be a tough match and if we show the same form and the same application then it will be a difficult game for Aberdeen.'' |