Noel Whelan wants to return to Aberdeen as new manager. The former Leeds United and Coventry star played with the Dons for a season in 2004-05.

Whelan is keen to break into management and has enlisted the help of Ron Atkinson, who signed him for Coventry for £2million from Leeds back in 1995.

He told the Scottish Sun: "I already have my backroom staff ready to come up and speak to Willie Miller.

"I would bring Ron Atkinson as my No2 and someone who is currently a manager in Scotland who I played with at Aberdeen.

"Ron has dealt with a lot of players and knows how to get the best out of them - that is what we need at Aberdeen.

"With myself and Ron at the club we have the capacity to bring in loan deals using our contacts.

"That is an area we'd look at as we wouldn't have money to bring in players."

Argentina legend Ossie Ardiles is also keen to land the post at Pittodrie after missing out to Ebbe Skovdahl in 1999.

He said: "It would be an honour and a privilege to manage a team of that stature."