Derek can be as big as Sir Alex at Dons
STEWART MILNE insists Derek McInnes can become as big a legend as Sir Alex Ferguson as Aberdeen celebrated his decision to stay at the club with a 1-0 win at Dundee.
The Dons chairman is delighted after persuading his manager to turn his back on Rangers and convincing him he can achieve more by leading them to the Promised Land of their new stadium. Milne wants McInnes to lead the Reds revolution he is building, from
success on the pitch
to the construction of a new training ground and stadium on the outskirts of the city.
If McInnes stays to see that job through over the next few years, Milne says he will go down in history as the man who defined one of the most important periods in their history.
A legacy worthy of celebration in the same breath as their greatest boss of all who masterminded their golden age of the 1980s.
Milne, who refused to comment on Rangers’ statement in the wake of McInnes’ snub, said: “I’d like to think one of the reasons Derek decided to stay was he has developed a great love for the club.
“He is seen as more than just the football manager, he’s a central figure involved in everything we are doing.
“I want him to be here for years to come. We all know how quickly things can change in football but if he sees through this project he would be as important a figure to our history as Sir Alex Ferguson – a man who defined a generation.
“In the four-and-a-half years Derek’s been here he has moved the club forward substantially.
“Once we’ve delivered the training facilities that will be another step in the right direction.”
Milne said that giving McInnes space to breathe was key to persuading him to stay after he refused Gers permission to speak to his manager.
He added: “He’s a clear thinker and in situations like that it’s a combination of regular dialogue and giving people thinking time.
“Hopefully there’s common ground for both parties to see benefits in staying together – and that’s the conclusion that Derek came to.
“I’ve no doubt Derek’s family played a role in the decision and there’s one or two others whose opinion he values.
“I’m hugely satisfied he’s staying. It would have been a setback for the club if he had gone.
“It’s a big thing for anybody to be asked to manage a major club like Rangers or a major club in England. When an opportunity arises it’s natural to consider if it’s the right move for me.
“Then you compare it to the question of what more can I do with the job I’ve got and I think that’s where Derek drew his conclusion.
“But now we can all devote 100 per cent of our focus back on that job which lies ahead.”
Milne admits the speculation over the last six weeks did have an effect on everyone at the club. He added: “It’s difficult to quantify the tangible effect but I think it affected a lot of people subconsciously.
“We’ve had one or two periods that we’ve come through when displays and results haven’t been there but Derek has brought confidence that at some point they will get back to winning ways.
“Things never run smoothly throughout the whole course of the season, every team goes through difficult spells.
“I’m pleased we can move on now and draw a line under this. We’ve got a good relationship with Rangers and my desire is to continue that.”
Meanwhile, McInnes himself hit back at Gers’ statement suggesting he’s not up to a big job.
He said: “Each to their own. I’m a very confident guy, confident in my own abilities. When you’ve had a couple of clubs willing to pay compensation for me in the last few months, it shows I’m doing a good job.
“Everybody has an opinion. There were loads of reasons why I stayed.
“But the one thing that underpinned the decision was not wanting to tarnish relationships that have been forged here.
“The players, the staff, fans, chairman. I wasn’t prepared to rip up what we’ve developed here.
“Some things are important and that underpinned everything.
“From an approach going in and decision being made, it was less than 48 hours. All the speculation that went on beforehand is what dragged it out.
“It was good just to get back to the game tonight. We can now concentrate only on Aberdeen.”