Miller: Stewart Milne is right to keep his money

By Willie Miller

Published:

GOOD JOB: Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne.

THE structure of the board of directors at Pittodrie will ensure the Dons go from strength to strength.

The directors, chairman Stewart Milne in particular, have come in for some strong criticism because of the club’s chequered history over more than a decade.

I was once one of the most vocal of their critics, so fans can be sure I would not give the directors my backing if I wasn’t convinced they have the good of the club at heart.

Having now worked alongside them for four years, I can assure the Dons fans they have the same burning desire as them to see this club back in a position of power in the Scottish game again, with Stewart very much the driving force.

Stewart has endured constant calls for him to use his personal wealth to wipe out Aberdeen FC’s debts and make more money available to bring in better quality players.

I don’t see that ever happening, and why should it?

Most businesses are run by ensuring any funds raised are reinvested to gradually build them into a position of strength.

Why should football clubs be any different?

There are many bad examples of clubs who have gone down the route of getting one person to plough money in, with the result that wage levels and debts increase and threaten their very existence.

Gretna are only the latest to discover that to their cost, with Dundee and Motherwell among others who went into administration and were in danger of disappearing altogether.

It would be nice to be able to give manager Jimmy Calderwood a bigger budget to work with, although I must add the existing one has been expanded by around £1million more than was first allocated over the last four years.

That isn’t possible though, so we are all going to have to be content with doing things bit by bit.

It’s important that our fans understand that is the sensible option. It’s probably not what they want to hear, but it’s what they will be getting told while I’m at the club.

The board are as hungry as anyone to see the club successful and have a duty to deliver that to the fans, it is their club after all.

We will get there in the end because we have one of the best constructed boards in the country.

Stewart and Martin Gilbert’s companies, as the majority shareholders, ensure the continued backing of our bankers and use their business expertise to offer sensible advice when it is needed. Ken Matheson, thanks to his back ground in banking, is the brains when it comes to mapping out how our finances are managed.

Lawyer Gordon Buchan has been the club’s legal advisor for many years, and Chris Gavin provides much needed input as the fans’ advisor on the board.

Beneath those guys are the two paid directors, myself and Duncan Fraser, who have been trusted with the day-to-day running of the club.

We meet once a month to discuss any major issues and how best to resolve them, and Duncan and I appreciate the support we get and freedom we receive to get on with doing our jobs.

Despite a few disappointments, particularly with some cup results, significant progress has been made in many areas over the last four years, and that will continue.

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