ABERDEEN striker Dean Windass, who was sent off in the 5-0 defeat by Dundee United at Tannadice on Sunday and then received a second red card after having left the field, has been hammered by the Pittodrie board after setting an unwanted record.

He has been fined a maximum two weeks' wages, around #5000, by the club that sacked manager Roy Aitken on Monday. Later yesterday, the SFA added to his woes by suspending him for the next six games, starting with this weekend's home clash with Rangers.

Windass had accumulated 22 disciplinary points and, as well as missing out against Rangers, he will sit out the matches against Dunfermline, Celtic, St Johnstone, Hibs, and Kilmarnock. The double red card against United mean the Englishman has now amassed seven red cards since joining the Dons from Hull two years ago.

Incredibly, Windass has earned his place in the Aberdeen record books by picking up more red cards than any other player in the club's history. His seven sendings-off eclipses Willie Miller's total of four, which were amassed over 556 appearances for Aberdeen, stretching over 17 years.

It now seems certain that the striker will be sold, if Aberdeen receive a suitable offer. However, following yesterday's SFA ban, it is unlikely any club will make a quick move for his services.

Meanwhile, Keith Burkinshaw yesterday warned that Aberdeen must find the right manager or suffer critical damage. Before Aitken's sacking, Burkinshaw, director of football, insisted that any change in the Pittodrie hot seat could set the club back two years.

Already he has ruled out appointing a foreign coach because of the risks involved. The acting team manager revealed: ''I have thought about one or two people and there are others I have ideas on, but it is vital we make the correct decision as a board to take the club forward.

''It would be fine if the new man was appointed quickly, but it would be a disaster if, two or three months down the road, it was discovered that he could not do what is a very difficult job. He must be a very strong character who knows exactly where he wants to go.

''This is a difficult time, because things have not gone well this season. The next manager must have a definite plan as to what he intends doing.

''Everything is in place here. This club is as well run as any I have ever known. The board has a clear picture of its ambitions, but the first team is clouding the issue. If he improves this area, then the club will go ahead.

''If he wants me out of his way, that will not be a problem. There are many other aspects here to be dealt with. If he wants a continental system, with a general manager to allow him to concentrate solely on coaching, then this will be considered. Every avenue will be explored, but bringing in foreign players is always a lottery, so a manager would be an even bigger gamble. If we did go that way, he would have to speak perfect English. Having worked with Sporting Lisbon and not knowing the Portuguese language, it was difficult to get my message across through an interpreter.

''It is far more likely that we will go for someone from within Britain and someone who can handle the demands of this club.''

Burkinshaw cannot make swingeing changes for his first match with Rangers at Pittodrie on Saturday. He added: ''There cannot be many changes, because there aren't many available to make.

''The priority is to get the players in the right frame of mind for this game and the mood was good today in training.''