Del’s every right to be put off by Gers’ concomitant risks

RANGERS took 272 words in a prepared statement they could have boiled down to four. You’ve bottled it, Derek. Derek McInnes has either taken a decision that will compromise his future in football management or it will prove an inspired professional choice.

The truth, like a new Rangers boss, may take some time to reveal itself.

The Rangers board only have themselves to blame – throw so many eggs in one basket, especially after six weeks, and inevitably you’ll end up with yolk on your face.

Did McInnes pick up on a vibe his appointment would have been greeted favourably by the bulk of Rangers directors but not unanimously hailed as a masterstroke?

Did he fear his legacy would be akin to Tommy Burns’ when he departed Kilmarnock for Celtic at the time of Fergus McCann’s takeover – a solid, medium-term appointment who would stabilise the club only for others to arrive and reap the rewards of his efforts?

Only McInnes can answer those questions but in his interview with Red TV yesterday he made it patently clear he wanted the whole issue put to bed quicker than a kid on Christmas Eve.

The Rangers statement was crass and insensitive and invited negative conclusions to be drawn about the strength of character of McInnes.

Even a glance at it on Thursday night would surely have confirmed in his mind he made the right decision to stay put.

It was laced with innuendo – a “massive” club like Rangers was a “big step”. We’ll only appoint someone in whom we have “full confidence” they said and “who feels he is ready for the job”.

They stopped short of telling him he’s welcome to his comfort zone at Pittodrie but only just.

There are as many questions in the CV of McInnes as answers, which is why fans were split over the possible appointment of a player who served them so diligently over five years in the 1990s.

There have been runs to the Scottish Cup Final, a League Cup win and he has comfortably established the Dons as Scotland’s second force.

However, his record in big games is questionable, especially in Glasgow, while Aberdeen’s exploits in the Europa League in recent seasons have been little to write home about.

It’s not the equivalent of the Light Blues making a move for Alex Ferguson in 1983 but Dons fans will rightfully cackle with glee at the decision of their man to once again snub his first footballing love.

The hopes of McInnes operating at the highest level of England will have been enhanced by a move to Rangers, with greater resources and a route to the Champions League.

With determination, he may have won over the doubters and established a new era of success at Ibrox, which fans are struggling to envisage at this most challenging stage in their history.

Aberdeen will provide a route to the English Championship at best and maybe even a crack at the Scotland job one day.

But the potential of a £50million project at Kingsford, a desire to deliver on the investment of Stewart Milne and Dave Cormack and the support of a strong and stable board are binds that tie.

McInnes didn’t have the stomach for Rangers? Who knows but he’s earned the right to conclude, with all its concomitant risks, Pittodrie is the place where his career is less likely to go belly up.

They stopped short of telling him he’s welcome to his Pittodrie comfort zone but only just