Aberdeen's directors will meet today to plan a strategy in their search for a new manager, but supporters would be well advised to hold their breath until an appointment has been finalised.

Despite media speculation that there is already a shortlist, with Jim Jefferies of Hearts a skinny-priced favourite, the process of finding a successor to Alex Miller is likely to last well into the New Year.

Jefferies's achievements at Berwick, Falkirk and Hearts make him an obvious contender, but the work of Bobby Williamson at Kilmarnock has also not gone unnoticed.

Within two days of Miller's departure last Tuesday, 50 candidates had applied to the Pittodrie club. An unnamed club source, however, complained about the quality of applicants.

In addition, the board expects to hear anonymously from at least another 10 applicants. Jefferies is known to be keen on the job, but his contract at Tynecastle has four years to run and compensation for Aberdeen could be costly.

Outside of the Old Firm, Aberdeen is still regarded as the best manager's job in Scotland, though compared to wealthy Celtic and Rangers, they and the other clubs in the Premier League sometimes find the financial rigours a little difficult to bear.

But Aberdeen remains a club with great potential. It has no debt and some money in the bank "not millions", according to one director, "but enough to work with".

Another contender for the job came to the fore two days ago, when the caretaker-manager Paul Hegarty led the team to an impressive 2-0 victory over Hearts at Pittodrie.

The first-half goals produced by Robbie Winters and Eoin Jess were followed by a penalty kick from Jess, which was saved by Gilles Rousset, just before the interval.

Hegarty, who was Miller's assistant, is very keen to succeed his former boss and the Aberdeen directors may give him a chance to prove that he can.

That victory took Aberdeen off the bottom of the league, but the most significant change was at the top, where Rangers stole a three-point lead by beating Kilmarnock 1-0 at Ibrox.

In a poor match, Rod Wallace poached the winner after 10 minutes. The Kilmarnock striker Jerome Vareille may need an operation after dislocating a shoulder early in the game. Rangers's Arthur Numan was also taken to hospital with a damaged ankle.

Celtic's dreadful away record continued in the 1-1 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice, where they squandered several opportunities before the home side led through Lars Zetterlund. The champions required Henrik Larsson's headed equaliser five minutes from the end to escape with a meagre reward.