Neil Warnock advised Aberdeen to give a new manager time to assess the squad before the summer before stepping down immediately after leading the Dons to Hampden.
Warnock’s departure was announced soon after a 3-1 home victory over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup quarter-finals.
It was a second win in eight games for Warnock – the other came against Bonnyrigg Rose in the previous round – since he replaced the sacked Barry Robson on February 5.
That appointment was designed to last until the end of the season but Warnock leaves the club 10th in the cinch Premiership, four points above the danger zone.
Chairman Dave Cormack declared in a brief statement that the search for a long-term manager was at an “advanced stage”. Neil Lennon has emerged as the favourite in recent days after declaring his strong interest in the job.
First-team coach Peter Leven could be in charge for Wednesday’s Premiership clash at Dundee though, with Warnock bowing out immediately.
Warnock said in his final post-match press conference: “I said I’d try to help them out and give them my advice. My advice is to get a new manager in as soon as possible now.
“They’re well down the line and it needs an overhaul in the summer. There’s no use waiting until then and they’ve listened to me.
“I think he needs to have a couple of months looking at the squad now in depth. Because I think to be successful – and you can be successful with the right recruitment – they need a couple of months to assess it.
“I’m glad I’ve been able to get the fans to the semi-final and we deserved it because we were superior in every department. It was a really good way to end.
“I’m disappointed I won’t lead them out at Hampden but some lucky man will come in to do that.”
Warnock described his time at Pittodrie as “up and down”. He faced questions over his future after the Dons lost 2-1 against St Mirren the previous weekend despite leading with 95 minutes on the clock.
“I didn’t enjoy last week after the St Mirren game,” the former Sheffield United manager said. “I did think: ‘What am I doing here at 75’?
“But I knew I had to be the one to get everyone going on Monday because you don’t have time to dwell.”
Warnock’s departure was planned during a meeting with Cormack and chief executive Alan Burrows on Thursday.
“We had a chat and I thought it was the right time to bring someone else in,” he said. “They’re not far away. If it’s just one game or so, Peter will be okay.
“The lads know what they’re doing now. I felt it was the right time. I wanted to win and finish like that.
“That was the situation on Thursday. I told them how I felt and we’ve left amicably.”
Warnock will now possibly spend time at his holiday home in Dunoon and stated he might go to watch Morton in their quarter-final against Hearts on Monday, while he promised the Aberdeen players he will go to Hampden “for the final”.
But he would not rule out one last job, having come out of retirement last season to steer Huddersfield away from relegation danger.
When asked if this was the end, he said: “I’ve just been asked that and I said, ‘look, it’s the 16th time I’ve retired now’. I would say yes but who knows, when you get to my age you don’t know what’s around the corner – you just hope that you keep living.”
Jamie McGrath opened and closed the scoring and Graeme Shinnie netted on a day of mixed emotions for the captain – he picked up a late yellow card for dissent which will rule him out of the semi-final.
Danny Armstrong pulled a goal back for Killie late in the first half but they could not carve out any second-half chances.
The visitors missed winger Matty Kennedy through injury and could not bring on Kevin van Veen after the striker experienced a tight hamstring during the warm-up.
Manager Derek McInnes said: “We had a brilliant crowd here, expectations have been raised, but we never met that expectation and sometimes that’s the way it goes.”
Al-Khaleej 0-1 Al-Nassr: Ronaldo misfires on return as Laporte nets winner
Cristiano Ronaldo returned from suspension but failed to find the net as Al-Nassr secured a 1-0 win over Al-Khaleej on Saturday, with Aymeric Laporte coming up with the decisive goal.
Ronaldo was in action for the first time since being sent off for an elbow in a 2-1 Saudi Super Cup loss to Al-Hilal earlier this month, with his initial two-match ban being reduced to one on appeal.
He missed three good chances as Al-Nassr threatened to fall further behind runaway Saudi Pro League leaders Al-Hilal, but former Manchester City defender Laporte spared his blushes by nodding Marcelo Brozovic's deep free-kick into the bottom-left corner with 68 minutes gone.
Al-Nassr remain nine points adrift of Al-Hilal at the summit in spite of their win, with Jorge Jesus' team unbeaten through 28 games this season as they close in on a record-extending 18th title.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo misfires on return
Ronaldo was presented with the Saudi Pro League's Player of the Month award for March ahead of kick-off, having scored four goals in three league appearances last month.
However, his sights were off on Saturday as he failed to net despite three of the visitors' four big chances, as defined by Opta, falling his way. He led all players on the pitch for expected goals (1.27 xG), shots (five), shots on target (three) and touches in the area (nine) without reward.
Huddersfield all but relegated from Championship while League Two play-off spots decided
Huddersfield Town saw their relegation from the Championship all but confirmed after a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Birmingham City on Saturday.
The Terriers avoided a defeat that would have seen them relegated on Saturday, but even a win on the final day over promotion hopefuls Ipswich Town will not be enough unless they overcome a huge goal difference of 15 goals with Plymouth Argyle.
Birmingham remain in the other relegation place and now must beat Norwich City to stand a chance of staying up with Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth and Blackburn Rovers also still in danger.
At the other end of the table, the Canaries dropped points in a 2-2 draw with Swansea City, leaving the door open for Hull City, who face Ipswich Town later today.
Leicester City seal automatic Premier League return
Leicester City are once more a Premier League team, having bounced straight back after relegation last season.
The Foxes secured automatic promotion without kicking a ball, as title rivals Leeds United lost 4-0 away to Queens Park Rangers on Friday.
Marti Cifuentes' Hoops side gave their fans a reason to cheer in their final home game of the season, and the emphatic win means they are now seven points clear of the relegation zone.
The Hoops boss told BBC Sport: "I came here, perhaps I was crazy thinking we could manage the great escape.
"The atmosphere has been unbelievable since I came here. Everybody thought tonight could be a special night to achieve our target.
"Big players deliver big performances and our players all did that tonight."
Defeat ensured only Ipswich Town can now finish above Leicester, meaning the Foxes will be back in the big time.
Ipswich, who have three games left to play, face play-off hopefuls Hull City on Saturday.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: "It's not in our hands any more [automatic promotion], we need to be honest.
"The race is not over. If Ipswich win the next two games then I will say congratulations, but if they don’t win them then we will have a lot to play for.
"As long as we have a chance, I’m far away from giving up."
Leicester could be crowned champions if they beat Preston North End on Monday and if Hull beat Ipswich.
The Foxes are looking to break the 100-point barrier, despite a wobble from Enzo Maresca's side in recent months.
After they had been so far ahead and top for all but two of the 176 days between 23 September and 17 March, an untimely dip in form handed Leeds and Ipswich hope.
However, while Leicester celebrate their promotion, they face the daunting prospect of starting next season with a points deduction, after they were charged by the Premier League with alleged breaches of the competition's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
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