Mr Willie Miller
Director of Football
Aberdeen Football Club plc
Pittodrie Stadium
Aberdeen
AB24 5QH
24 March 2009

Dear Willie

Open Letter from AFC Supporters Society concerning AFC Performance

Since its inception all that AFC Trust (now AFC Supporters Society) has asked for is change for the better and some progress, on football matters. Largely, since you took over as Director of Football, we have left you to get on with it and trusted you to deliver. The establishment of the AFC Youth Academy was a welcome and positive step.

However, after a few days reflection on recent events, we can no longer tolerate what is happening on the pitch. For three years in a row, we have been dumped out of cup competitions by lower league opposition and also humbled by Kilmarnock and Dundee United. Losses to Queens Park, Queen of the South and Dunfermline, in the circumstances that they occurred are simply unacceptable, and the supporters need to see some accountability for such results. Similarly, we have flattered to deceive in the league alternating from good spells to some atrocious football.

There is no evidence of further progress, rather the reverse. There is very little evidence of young players coming through or being given a chance. On paper, with McDonald, Kerr, Miller, Aluko and (when fit, Smith), we have some of the best players in the league. We also have some of the worst and as a team, we are mostly ineffective.

Whilst we recognise that Jimmy Calderwood joined the club when it was at a low ebb, stabilised matters in the league and has ensured top six finishes in each of his seasons, it is now clear that he has taken this process as far as he can and we now need to get fresh blood to take the club to the next level – which is competing in cup finals and being credible third place challengers (and who knows, following Hearts example, perhaps higher). He appears to be tactically inept, continually changes team layout, players and tactics, creating confusion on and off the pitch and appears to be incapable of motivating the team for crucial games. The team perform as if they have no idea how they are meant to be playing, have no passion, commitment and very little skill. This is further demonstrated by his substitutions in recent matches. How can a team that swept Celtic virtually into The North Sea a few weeks ago capitulate so meekly to Dunfermline and in some of our other disasters this season?

Last seasons run in Europe was welcome and exciting but we have failed to capitalise on that with subsequent performances. The coffers will suffer as a consequence meaning next season will again be difficult.

We, as long suffering fans have had enough, we are completely fed up being told we have unrealistic expectations and somehow this is our fault. Lets be crystal clear we do not expect to be winning the SPL, however we DO expect to be beating lower division opposition in the cups rather than losing to them in successive seasons. We are also fed up of Jimmys continual blaming of players, the pitch and anything else that takes his fancy, rather than taking some personal responsibility. For a long time, we have been looking for some leadership from him, some humility and some dignity.

We were collectively dismayed that Jimmy and the management team were given lucrative long term contracts, presumably based on last seasons run in Europe. I am sure you must accept this was a big mistake now. The team is no longer improving and although it will be costly to move the entire management team, we must bite the bullet and do so. To stand by and hope things get better is not an option.

Action is required now.

Yours sincerely

AFC Trust Society Board

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