FOLLOWING IN FERGIE'S FOOTSTEPS

Aberdeen have appointed the former Manchester United defender Steve Paterson as their new manager.

Paterson, who leaves Inverness Caledonian Thistle after a seven-year spell, will also bring with him Caley assistant manager Duncan Shearer, the former Aberdeen striker, as his assistant.

Paterson rejected the opportunity to become Dundee United's manager last month, but was delighted to accept the post at Aberdeen.

"To me Aberdeen is Scotland's third largest club and to have the chance to manage them is a huge opportunity for me," he said.

Paterson is best known for helping former Highland League side Inverness beat Celtic 3-1 at Celtic Park in the Scottish Cup three years ago - a result that cost John Barnes his job as manager of the Glasgow club.

Paterson faces a tough task as Aberdeen have long since ceased to be the force they were when Alex Ferguson managed them in the early part of the 1980s.
He helped Aberdeen reach the Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup finals in 2000, while last season they beat Celtic 2-0 and finished fourth in the league to qualify for the Uefa Cup.

But their young side have struggled this year and Paterson takes control of a side who are out of Europe and sit ninth in the SPL - six points ahead of bottom-place Motherwell.

Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne is optimistic about the future of the club.

"We are delighted to have appointed one of Scotland's brightest young managerial talents," he said.