I’M STUNNED DEL SNUBBED MOVE SOUTH
NEALE COOPER admits he was shocked and puzzled but pleased that Derek McInnes rebuffed Sunderland.
The Aberdeen legend spent two periods in charge of near neighbours Hartlepool and is convinced the Dons boss would have been knocked out by the passion of the north-east of England’s football fans.
And Cooper reckons with Celtic and Rangers strengthening their squads for the new campaign and Hearts expected to improve on their disappointing performance last season, McInnes might have a tougher time to maintain the progress he has made since he arrived at Pittodrie four years ago.
The Reds gaffer stunned even the most loyal of the Aberdeen faithful when he rejected the Black Cats’ bid to appoint him as successor to Davie Moyes.
Cooper, a star midfielder for the Dons in the glory years under Sir Alex Ferguson and a European Cup Winners’ Cup hero in 1983, was sure that when he heard Aberdeen were prepared to allow McInnes to leave, it would be a done deal that he would take the helm at the Stadium of Light.
He insisted he could think of no reason that would prevent the move, though the potential for owner Ellis Short to sell Sunderland – a German consortium is said to be ready to take over – is a likely factor with new owners possibly wishing to appoint their own man.
Cooper said: “Sunderland is a fantastic club.
“I thought this was a great chance for Derek because he has done so well for Aberdeen and when I heard he was to talk with them I thought it was a done deal.
“I thought he was away but I’m delighted he isn’t, even though he faces big challenges next season.
“When I was manager at Hartlepool, just 20 miles down the road, we would often play friendlies and closed-door games at their training complex which is an amazing set-up.
“And there’s an unbelievable passion for football in that part of the world. It’s quite incredible.
“Plus the Stadium of Light is a beautiful ground.
“After his unhappy spell at Bristol City before he got the Aberdeen job this was an opportunity for Derek to go back to England with a massive club.
“Sunderland’s set-up is out of this world but there must be some reason they didn’t want to go which we don’t know. When clubs like Sunderland come along for a manager you expect it to happen.
“I was totally surprised he decided to stay and shocked he turned down a club like Sunderland.
“The move wasn’t to be and we don’t know why it didn’t happen but it’s good news for the Dons and their supporters.”
McInnes has worked wonders at Pittodrie, winning the League Cup and last season reaching two cup finals and finishing second in the Premiership – their third successive year as runners-up to Celtic.
But Cooper wonders how he can improve on that, especially with the loss of key performers like Jonny Hayes, Ryan Jack and Niall McGinn.
He said: “Celtic are only going to get stronger and they’ve also added to their squad by taking Hayes, the Dons’ best player.
“Will Aberdeen do better than they’ve already done under Derek? I’m not sure.
“At the same time, Celtic are dominating Scottish football. Rangers are strengthening too and Hearts have to be better this season.
“So it could be a lot tougher for Aberdeen.” WHEN Martin Bain went to bed on Wednesday night Sunderland’s chief executive believed he had Derek McInnes in the bag. And not without good reason either.
From the moment Aberdeen grudgingly granted permission for Bain to open talks with their manager earlier that same day, the positive nature of those discussions with McInnes and his representative – coupled with the vast sums of money involved – made the appointment look like a relative no-brainer.
So much so that that very night Sunderland’s PR department was already crossing the Ts and dotting the Is on the statement to confirm McInnes as Davie Moyes’s replacement.
But as Bain’s head was hitting his red and white striped pillow, across the Atlantic an uneasy McInnes was choosing to count on sheep of a very different kind. Something simply did not feel right about this once-in-a-lifetime offer to more than treble his wages and join a club with Premier League ambitions. And the more McInnes weighed up his options the less inclined he felt to leave the empire he has built for himself in Aberdeen behind. What he cherishes at Pittodrie is the strength and stability of a club which – for all it may lack in comparative spending power – will unfailingly pull in whichever direction he chooses. Sunderland, on the other hand, is about as strong and stable as Theresa May. Riding a unicycle. In a skid pan. Yes he could have made a small fortune by cashing in on Bain’s jackpot – and he believed he would have worked well with his compatriot too. But McInnes chose what was best for his career over what was best for his bank balance and in doing so he displayed all the qualities which make him a manager of genuine substance. By staying put he also demonstrated the strength of his own faith in the resurgent Scottish scene as well a belief he might be able to go at least one better next season after leading Aberdeen to