Aberdeen midfielder Findlay Marshall says being told he was not good enough by former manager Jimmy Thelin was the making of him, after the snub spurred him on to a Scotland U21 call-up.
Marshall was sent on loan to Arbroath in the summer of 2025 after Thelin passed on the news through assistant Peter Leven and director of football Steven Gunn that he was free to leave. The academy graduate is now a regular in Stephen Robinson's squad, while all three of those figures have since departed Pittodrie.
Loan move proved a turning point
Reflecting on the setback, Marshall admitted it was difficult to hear but ultimately beneficial. He said: "It was hard at the time as I was told in the summer before I went to Arbroath. Steven Gunn and Peter Leven told me, but it came from all of them. It was gutting at the time but I probably knew I wasn't ready. So looking back, that it was probably the jolt I needed as that's the type of person I am."
"I like positive feedback but when you hear something like that it spurs you on. Everyone wants to prove people wrong and I felt I did that. I went to Arbroath, got a change of scenery and was able to just focus on that."
Marshall was a key figure in Arbroath's run to the promotion play-offs, with only St Johnstone's Josh McPake and Dunfermline's Andy Tod scoring more league goals last season. His form earned a nomination for the PFA's Young Player of the Year award and a new deal with Aberdeen, with sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel key in that decision.
Robinson's arrival sealed his future
The arrival of Stephen Robinson was the clincher, with the new manager making clear he would have wanted to sign Marshall if he had not already been a Dons player. Marshall added: "The gaffer wasn't in the building when the talks first started so Lutz reassured me I would get a chance."
"Then hearing the gaffer say what he did really gave me the confidence he'd be behind me. Now I want to give the same confidence back to him, knowing that he can play me. He's been brilliant with us, brings character and energy and his style of coaching is good. I think defensively we've actually been good but know we need to score more goals."
Pressure mounts ahead of Hibs clash
Marshall knows the best way to repay that faith is by beating Hibs to ease the growing pressure on Robinson. He started September's 1-1 draw at Easter Road, one of only two points the Edinburgh club have secured in their last eight league games.
The 20-year-old is aware of what is at stake, saying: "We need to pick up results and this weekend is a big game for us. Hibs are a really good team and I think they've been a bit unfortunate because they have a good squad. They probably should be picking up more results than they have been, a bit like us. But after their result in the cup against Hearts last weekend they'll be coming here confident."
"I think we have everything we need to get a positive result from this game and go into the international break after that. We want to get a win this weekend so we can keep building from there."
