Dons chiefs must reward McInnes’ loyalty with funds

MK DONS, Rotherham, Burton and Oxford. Just four clubs in England where managers and players have moved to recently after success north of the border.

They are hardly the most glamorous destinations but the pay packet on offer was attractive enough for the likes of Robbie Neilson, Alan Stubbs, Jackson Irvine and Kane Hemmings to jump ship in the last year.

The bottom end of the English Championship or League One is as good as many of our friends across Hadrian’s Wall think we can do.

Despite leading Celtic into the last 16 of the Champions League, Neil Lennon ended up at basket-case Bolton and Charlie Mulgrew went to Lancashire rivals Blackburn from the Hoops when he fancied a change last summer.

Even now Liam Lindsay, regarded as one of Scotland’s real rising stars, looks to be on the move to Oxford with last season’s Premiership top scorer Liam Boyce a target for Burton.

It highlights the opinion of the bigger clubs in England of the standard in Scotland and makes the decision of Derek McInnes to turn down Sunderland all the more commendable.

McInnes had the chance to boost his bank balance significantly and join one of the bigger clubs in England.

While others have raced across the border at the first offer to come their way he refused to be swayed by the sums of money on offer.

McInnes is astute in everything he does but most thought he would heading for the Pittodrie exit as soon as he held talks with Black Cats chief Martin Bain.

The fact Sunderland owner Ellis Short is close to agreeing a takeover with a mystery German group could have something to do with his decision – and the lack of funds handed to former boss David Moyes who failed to stop them sliding into the Championship.

The reasons for turning down the offer are understandable but it must still have been difficult given the lure of England and the uncertainty of when such an opportunity will come up again.

It is going to be hard for McInnes to better what he has already achieved at Pittodrie. In fact, it will only get harder with Rangers likely to improve.

And that is where McInnes must be rewarded for his loyalty shown to the Dons.

In the week when US-based software entrepreneur Dave Cormack rejoined the Pittodrie board, McInnes needs funds to strengthen.

Pedro Caixinha’s “end of cycle” prediction at the Dons doesn’t included the manager departing but he has still lost a core of key players.

Some might argue Aberdeen can’t improve and that finishing second to record-breaking Celtic

He has lost that core of key players .. some may argue the team can’t improve

in all three competitions last season is as good as they can expect.

But if they rest on their laurels they will quickly go backwards and qualifying for the Europa League group stage must be one of the main priorities after coming close in recent seasons.

Either way, it’s a brave call from McInnes. Fans are fickle and while they are celebrating his decision to stay just now that won’t count for much if things start to go wrong.

But they should remember what he sacrificed to stay. Billy Reid knocked back Swansea when he was at Hamilton, Paul Hartley snubbed Cardiff while at Dundee and Stuart McCall resisted Sheffield United when he was at Motherwell.

Their loyalty counted for little when they were all shown the door.