Aberdeen director of football Willie Miller has been forced to respond to weekend rumours that boss Jimmy Calderwood is to be replaced by Motherwell manager Mark McGhee. Miller said, "If Aberdeen Football Club was considering parting company with him, he would hear it from myself face to face long before it appeared in the public domain," Miller told the club's official website.

"We live in an age where internet chat sites come up with dozens of rumours every single day, the vast majority of which are total rubbish, and I would not be at all surprised if that is where this one originated from."

Calderwood was also unhappy with the speculation regarding his future, insisting: "Wherever it's come from, people should always do their homework before they start something like that.

"Obviously they didn't, which is very disappointing. It's a story for somebody and you just have to get on with it.

"I've never been in this position to be honest but I think I'm clever enough to know if people are different towards me," he told Northsound.

"There are too many honest people at this club and I would know before any of your lads or some idiot phoning people.

"I wish I could meet him (who started the rumour). They are not that brave. All these people on phone-ins and who send you letters without an address are just cowards."