Chairman Dave Cormack has revealed “unforeseen circumstances” have hampered Aberdeen’s search for a new head coach.

The Dons parted company with Scottish Cup-winning manager Jimmy Thelin on January 4, following a five-match run without a win.

Peter Leven has been in interim charge since and former assistant manager Tony Docherty returned to bolster the management team about 10 days ago.

Sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel stated on the same day that news of a permanent appointment was “imminent” but front-runner Eirik Horneland was later quoted in his native Norway as saying he would see what happened with his future in the summer.

Cormack has now sought to update supporters in the wake of Aberdeen’s 3-2 home defeat by Dundee on Saturday, which left them eighth in the William Hill Premiership, closer to the bottom two than the top six.

But there was little in his statement to suggest an appointment is near.

“It has now been 49 days since we began a formal process to appoint a new head coach,” he said. “In football terms that can feel like a long time, but this is one of the most important decisions any club makes, and it is vital that we get it right.

“While we always have several...