The Dons are on the hunt for a new manager again and we've run the rule over some of the key men in the frame

Aberdeen are on the hunt for their sixth permanent manager in the last five years – and boy, does Dave Cormack need this one to stick.

The axe fell on Stephen Robinson following their hammering at the hands of Hibs and he's the fifth boss, not including interim stints, to be hired and fired since Derek McInnes' exit in 2021.

It's a trend that just can't continue. There have been high points in the years since, Jimmy Thelin's Scottish Cup win chief among them, but the club have been trending in the wrong direction and they simply can't afford another botched appointment.

But getting it right is easier said than done, and that's the task facing Cormack and the Pittodrie board as they assess their options. And there are a few interesting options.

Record Sport's writers have their say on who should get the Aberdeen job.

Scott McDermott

There are massive problems at Aberdeen regarding their recruitment, and their decision-making at boardroom level has been dire in recent years. These issues need to be sorted out to give any new manager a chance of success.

The job needs a big personality to cope with the demands and expectations from supporters which are higher than they should be. It's a huge club that needs a leader and figurehead as the gaffer.

The outstanding candidates in Scotland right now are John McGlynn and Neil Lennon. Either of them, given time, could get the Dons moving again in the right direction.

They could go down the foreign route, like they tried previously with Jimmy Thelin. But with new CEO, Adrian Bevington, in charge of the process, I would expect Aberdeen to go for someone from down south.

Could they tempt someone like Rob Edwards to Pittodrie? He might be out of their reach but the club must aim high because they can't afford to get the next appointment wrong.

Robbie Copeland

Falkirk fans won't thank me for saying it, but the snobbery towards their boss John McGlynn among the big clubs in Scotland surely can't last forever.

The job he's done there is quite frankly outrageous. An undefeated season, back-to-back promotions, a top six finish in their first year back in the top flight, and they are now third in the table after five successive wins; they were second bottom before the last international break. Ridiculous stuff.

He's done it all of while playing a brand of football that puts most managers in Scotland (and beyond) to shame, and while his advancing years and relatively unpolished presentation may work against him, his work speaks for itself.

Who else could it be? Well Steve Clarke looks the ambitious pick, while there's been some noise around Neil Lennon, but I suspect the fans' backlash at that potential appointment could kill it before it starts...

Ryan McDonald

John McGlynn is the obvious frontrunner given the remarkable job he continues to do at Falkirk. But Neil Lennon should also be in Aberdeen's thinking. The ex-Celtic and Hibs boss has Dunfermline firmly in the promotion hunt and guided the Pars to last season's Scottish Cup Final.

A serial winner with 12 trophies to his name as a manager - including 10 major honours at Parkhead - Lennon has the pedigree to be operating at a higher level. He also has the personality and presence to galvanise Pittodrie.

His appointment would likely divide opinion, given his unpopularity as a player in the Granite City. However, the 55-year-old is exactly the type of character Aberdeen need to breathe fresh life into the club.

Michael Gannon

It would be great to see John McGlynn getting a crack at a bigger club, while Neil Lennon could shake the Dons out of their slumber. But you get the feeling Aberdeen might go for something different, and they should try to tempt England coach Anthony Barry.

He’s rated a top coach having been Roberto Martinez’s no2 with Belgium and Portugal, with a stint at Bayern Munich and now as Thomas Tuchel’s coach. Barry is in demand but perhaps Adrian Bevington can jump in first.

Andy Newport

Aberdeen fans may roll their eyes at the suggestion of Neil Lennon but the fact remains that the Pittodrie club have become an unwieldy mess, where the only thing produced is the piles of wasted cash.

To fix that and instil some focus and purpose, a strong character is required and someone whom will cut to the point. For me, Lennon fits the bill perfectly.

He’s worked at the highest level with Celtic but has shown a humility in accepting a drop down to the Championship with Dunfermline. He deserves another crack at a big club in the top flight.

Anthony Evans

John McGlynn would bring a brand of football to Pittodrie that the Red Army have been desperate to see for years but if they can't tempt him away from Falkirk, they could think outside the box and make ploy for Dynamo Dresden's Thomas Stamm.

The Swiss coach led his team to promotion to 2. Bundesliga two years ago and kept them in the division last season. He is renowned for favouring an attacking 3-4-3 formation that is also very flexible during a game. He is sure to be a familiar name to Pittodrie sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel.