Jim Leighton has criticised the timing of Aberdeen's decision to sack him as goalkeeping coach, asking why it could not have been done in the summer. Leighton told BBC Scotland: "The really sad thing for me, with my association with the club, is that it wasn't done in the summer.
"They've done it two games into the season when I can't get another job."
Former Scotland and Manchester United goalkeeper Leighton spent two playing spells with Aberdeen before joining the coaching staff in 2000.
He added of his departure: "I can't really say a great deal on it because I'm taking advice on things, as the club will be.
"Basically, there wasn't anything said and I'm hearing and reading all these things in newspapers but it's all news to me.
"I'm not going to criticise Mark and I'm not going to criticise anyone at the club.
"Every time there's a management change, the whole coaching staff goes and a whole new team comes in. If you're in football, you have to be prepared for that to happen.
"I know I'm a good coach and hopefully I'll get back into the game." Leighton feels he will have to leave the north-east of Scotland in order to keep working in football.
"It's very difficult to even think about getting a job because there's not any money for players so there's certainly not any money for goalkeeping coaches," he said.
"It makes it hopefully not a long winter for me but the prospects for me getting another job aren't too great at the moment.
"I came back up here 12 years ago. I'm settled up here, my family's up here, my wife's family is here as well so it would be a major wrench to leave Aberdeen.
"I never ever thought I'd be moving on from the city. I always felt when I retired, I would stay here for the rest of my days but if I'm going to work in football again, I'll probably have to leave.
"The financial restraints covering everyone means that my next job might not be in football. I'll just have to wait and see. I seriously hope it's going to be in football.
"I've spoken to a couple of agents to see if there's anything on the go in England because there's basically zero in Scotland."
