Sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel, appointed in November, is leading a rebuild at Aberdeen.

After a huge turnover of players in the past two years - there have been 31 incomings in four transfer windows - a disjointed squad needs a strong identity.

Pfannenstiel is on record as saying this, and his work started in January as the club added seven new players.

It is about the long-term vision for the club which means there may need to be short-term pain, so the theory goes. It is a logical analysis.

The problem is football does not always bow to logic.

"People should see it as a privilege to be offered the Aberdeen job," former Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson said on Sportsound.

"If there is a personal issue or a snag, I think the Aberdeen board should just cut ties.

"Everything has a reason for happening, go and get someone else. I can't believe a club the size of Aberdeen is going to sit dormant between now and the end of the season.

"I know they won in the cup - but go and act quickly, you're Aberdeen. It would put...