Calderwood Vows Not to Quit Despite Calls from Dons Supporters

Jimmy Calderwood told angry Aberdeen supporters that he won’t walk away from the club despite being demands for him to quit as manager. The Aberdeen fans flooded websites and phone ins calling for his sacking, after their Scottish Cup defeat by Dunfermline in midweek.

But Calderwood, who was a target for vicious abuse at the end of the penalty shoot-out defeat at Pittodrie, insisted the defeat has made him more determined to win the club a cup.

He said, “I know that fans are calling for my head but there is absolutely no chance I will walk away. I’m not a quitter. When I suffer disappointments they only serve to make me even more determined to do better.

"I only wish I could be in the trenches with the players doing something more physical to help rescue the situation. I am not going to run away from my responsibilities just as I won’t be running away from taking my share of the blame for what has gone wrong.

"I was up all night after the match because I was hurting so badly. I accept it was a long, long night for thousands of Aberdeen supporters but it has gone now. There is nothing any of us can now do about that defeat. All we can do is look to the next game at Easter Road and hope to do better.

"I can understand why the supporters were so angry but I’d rather they had directed their fury just at me and not the players. They are right to be so disappointed and if I was a fan I would have reacted in the same way—my scarf would have been one of the first thrown.

"But the fans have always been there for the players when they needed them and I hope that backing continues. That doesn’t mean they should stop displaying how passionate they are about this club. It’s one of the main reasons why I’m at Aberdeen.

"The club lives through the fans and whatever happens, good or bad, sparks a big reaction. That is what makes this club so special in comparison to a lot others in Scotland.

All of us at Pittodrie face a massive test of our characters. Looking back will do no good as that could deflect attention away from the challenge which lies ahead.”

Despite Calderwood’s rallying cry, many Dons fans have had enough with a poll being conducted on one Aberdeen forum, with 52.2 percent of the votes wanting rid of Calderwood, 31.3 percent to keep him and 14.9 percent wanting him to stay till the end of the season.

Aberdeen Fans Views - source: Red Ultras

“I think get him to f**k. He has done brilliantly for club but we need a change, players and management team seem too content and don’t have any bottle. Can’t see it happening though as it will cost too much to get rid of him.

"And before minicooler starts last night was unacceptable and there cannot be any excuses for losing to a first division team in our biggest game of the season.”

“The players didnt look like they had any clue what they were meant to be doing last night. Punting long balls didnt work but JC made no effort to change it (either by bringing on a targetman or by getting them to keep it on the deck).

"His substitutions are baffling at times and his commitment to his favourites beggars belief. Most of the people ive heard from put the blame squarely at his door for last nights defeat and i think he’s got a tough job to win back the majority of the supporters. He wont be sacked & he wont resign so he’ll stay on.

"If the standard of performances dont improve drastically between now and the end of the season then i think his position should be under serious scrutiny.”

“He’ll be fired by Saturday I think. I’ve backed him ALL season, but last night was the final straw for me.”

“I think he`s taken us as far as he can. I`ve never been one of the Jimmy GTF brigade but I don`t think he will ever be forgiven for last night especially after last season. You have to ask how many must win games have we actually won? There seems to be a problem motivating the team.”

“Give him to the end of the season. start 09/10 with a new manager, new faces, fresh approach to games.”