Football: Baxter: Dons could still lure me home.

ABERDEEN target Stuart Baxter last night went into talks with chairman Stewart Milne - insisting the Dons could lure him back to Scotland.

Baxter - who has steered AIK Stockholm into the Champions League at the first time of asking - was quoted in the Swedish press as having rejected a bid by Milne. But while the odds continue to favour him remaining in Scandinavia, we can reveal the exiled Scot has not totally ruled out coming home for his first British club job.

Baxter - whose current pounds 200,000-a-year deal is well within the Dons' budget - is the first shortlist candidate to be directly approached by the under-pressure Milne.

It confirms Sports Record's exclusive on Thursday that Baxter was top of the list to become the club's fourth manager in just 18 months.

The Scot, linked twice with Celtic since1997, boasts a phenomenal record of success in a decade of management - six championship wins and two cups from spells in Sweden, Norway and Japan.

Yet despite having earned legendary status in Japan with Kobe and San Frecce Horishima, he remains relatively unknown in his native country.

Baxter has made it known that he would be delighted to return to Britain with the right offer - not just personal terms but with cash to spend on players and with good training facilities.

He has been interested in hearing what Aberdeen can tempt him with.

Baxter, whose contract is believed to expire at the end of the Swedish season in October, insisted: "To say that I've turned Aberdeen down flat would be wrong because I'm going to be speaking to Mr Milne.

"Out of courtesy to a very good football club I wouldn't be telling journalists I've turned anyone down flat before having spoken to the person in question.

"I do not know at the moment what the Aberdeen job entails. That's the truth.

"But I would also say Stockholm have just won the cup and it's the first time the double has been achievedin Sweden in modern times.

"At this stage it would take a good job to prise me away."

But life in Sweden hasn't always been smooth for Baxter - and that could lure him back to Scotland

He and his family have been threatened by a group of Stockholm thugs known as The Firm.

Baxter could also be tempted by the chance of keeping caretaker Paul Hegarty - snubbed last week by Milne - on his backroom staff.

During a spell as a player with Dundee United in the late 70s the pair roomed together on trips.

Jim Jefferies, who will visit Pittodrie with Hearts tomorrow, remains another strong candidate.

Mean while, Mark Viduka is almost certainly out of next weeken's Old Firm Scottish Cup Final.

The Aussie striker was crocked by Craig Ireland a fortnight ago when he was shamefully sent off for spitting at the Dunfermline defender.

Viduka won't be back in training until the end of next week at the earliest and has no realistic hope of recovering in time for the Hampden showpiece.

Celtic physio Brian Scott said: "Mark is struggling with both ankle and hamstring injuries and will miss this Sunday's game against Dundee United.

"Hopefully he will be back in training next Wednesday."