Matthew Lindsay

ABERDEEN chairman Stewart Milne is poised to stand down after 21 years at the helm of the Pittodrie club.

The millionaire housebuilder is set to be replaced by vice-chairman Dave Cormack, the wealthy Atalanta-based businessman, and the current Dons board reconfigured.

The 69-year-old, who opened the north-east club’s new £12 million training facility Cormack Park along with legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson three weeks ago, is keen to concentrate on his other business interests after two decades in charge.

Milne replaced Dick Donald as a director at his boyhood heroes in 1994 and took over from Donald’s son Ian as chairman four years later.

Aberdeen declined to comment last night, but it is believed the move will be confirmed when the annual accounts, which will be voted on at their AGM next month, are released soon.

Milne has ploughed millions into the Ladbrokes Premiership club in the last 21 years and turned them into one the major clubs in Scotland once again. However, the Dons only lifted one trophy during his tenure, the League Cup back in 2014.

Former Aberdeen chief executive Cormack, a lifelong supporter who sold his software company Brightree for £567 million in 2016, is set to assume control of his boyhood heroes.

His first task will be to find funding for their proposed new £50 million stadium at Kingsford on the outskirts of the city.

Cormack, who divides his time between the United States and the north east, is renowned for his charitable donations. The Cormack Family Foundation put in £10,000 to the AFC Community Trust in 2014. He also donated £100,000 to help establish the Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre within Aberdeen’s Royal Infirmary.