Alex McLeish believes Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack is suffering sleepless nights as the club's crisis deepens following the sacking of manager Stephen Robinson.
The Pittodrie legend, speaking as a close friend of Cormack, says the US-based tech tycoon is carrying the burden of a succession of bad calls, with the Dons languishing after just three league wins in 12 games this season.
Despite lifting the Scottish Cup in 2025 to end a 34-year wait, Aberdeen have struggled in the Premiership, with a fleet of managers coming and going since Derek McInnes was ousted after eight years at the helm.
A painful spell for the Dons
McLeish, who helped take the club to unprecedented heights, said: "Dave is a close friend and I know he's done everything in his power to try and get the Dons to a level.
"We've seen a Scottish Cup final victory a couple of seasons ago. But the league positions are not what Aberdeen fans expect.
"Dave will be agonising. You know what it's like if you get something wrong, you can't sleep at night, can you? Dave will have been through all that kind of rigmarole as well. There'll be a big burden on him right now.
"But he's been stoic and he's stood by the club. He has to have massive credit for that. It's just about getting Aberdeen to cement their name back at the higher echelons of Scottish football."
Recruitment and confidence key
McLeish pointed to two massive factors in fixing the mess: recruitment and player confidence.
He said: "I think we've been waiting on it for four or five years. There's been some signs. There's been obviously winning the cup.
"You think that's a wee springboard for the coming season and then it's all kind of middle of the league, lower end of the league. What is the solution? It's definitely always down to what kind of players you've got.
"I've not got a solution, but it's obviously down to acquiring players of a certain level. So, do they have to look at their recruitment? Is it just players that have lost their identity, lost their confidence? These are two massive factors in the world of football."
Robinson's tough spot
McLeish admitted he was gutted to see Robinson's tenure heading down the plughole, with the Northern Irishman facing a tough spot after a four-goal thumping by Hibs in the Granite City.
He said: "It's sad to see. I like Stevie, I met him a few times and I thought he'd be good for Aberdeen. But, like everybody else, it's trying to get a team to function together.
"To have forwards that you know can score, to have midfielders that can show a bit of quality, eating a man, one-twos, being accurate with your passing. Every bit of quality factor comes into it. Is it down to recruitment? Are the players not good enough?
"The manager will always get the worse side of it, you know, because they can't sack 20 players. I was just hoping Stevie can get a couple of good results, but it may have been too late, I don't know."
McLeish was speaking at the announcement of William Hill as Official Sponsor and Proper Supporter of Walking Football Scotland.
