I’ve no trouble at Mill with Hibs
DEREK McINNES admits Aberdeen don’t have the financial muscle to hold on to their main men as he faces up to the prospect of more stars leaving.
But he insists that’s the only reason players want to quit Pittodrie – because they love everything else about life with the Dons.
McInnes has seen the likes of Ryan Jack, Ash Taylor, Peter Pawlett, Anthony O’Connor and Niall McGinn move on under freedom of contract in the past few seasons.
And this time last year he sold Kenny McLean to Norwich as the midfielder’s contract ran down, although the blow was softened a little when the Scotland star was loaned back until the end of the season.
Now the Pittodrie gaffer is preparing to lose two more internationalists as captain Graeme Shinnie and winger Gary Mackay-Steven enter the last six months of their deals.
McInnes knows the Dons have been a victim of their own success with his players putting BY SCOTT BURNS themselves in the shop window by dazzling for Aberdeen.
He realises there’s no way his club can compete with the Old Firm and sides in England when it comes to hard cash.
But McInnes said: “I think if you were to ask any players who have left, if they could have got the same financial rewards here then they wouldn’t have wanted to move.
“I totally understand, especially as there are clubs in Scotland that can pay a lot more and we are on the border of the world’s richest league.
“It is always a challenge to keep your best players.”
Aberdeen have been Celtic’s closest challengers for the past four seasons but McInnes has been forced to regularly reshape his side due to a raft of departures.
Jack controversially quit for Rangers, Pawlett went to MK Dons, Taylor headed to Northampton and O’Connor joined Bradford.
Northern Ireland star McGinn also quit for South Korean side Gwangju before returning for a second Pittodrie spell last January.
It might be a source of frustration but the Dons manager also understands the need for prudence.
Aberdeen have pushed up their wage bill in recent seasons to back their manager but stringent financial restrictions remain in place.
McInnes said: “If a team is doing well then there are key players who are prominent and may move on.
“We will always lose players as a consequence of that.
“It is about having the coping mechanisms and structures to deal with that and keeping them as long as possible by creating an environment that means they don’t want to leave.
“While I’m not happy about it, there is no point feeling sorry for yourself. We just have to deal with that.”
All the talk in recent weeks has been about the futures of Shinnie and Mackay-Steven.
The Scotland pair can now talk to other clubs and sign pre-contracts, although the Dons are still trying to convince them to agree extensions.
McInnes knows Aberdeen have been a good platform for both players, helping them get a foot in the international door.
But the duo want some time before deciding on their next career moves and the Pittodrie boss knows he’s unlikely to get any answers this month.
McInnes said: “I tried that a few years ago but deadlines don’t work for me.
“The players are well within their rights to take as long as they want.
“In terms of my forward planning and what we are going to be working with this season and beyond, it would help me no end if we got some clarity on that quicker.
“They don’t need to wait until the end of January, if they tell me today they want to stay they can.
“In an ideal world that will be the case and I’m hopeful that can still be the case.” MARK MILLIGAN insists he has no regrets about moving to Hibs despite struggling to make an impact at Easter Road.
The midfielder, who will lead Australia in their defence of the Asian Cup this month, hasn’t played in a winning Hibees side since September.
But Milligan said: “I thought Hibs was a good fit for me. And it has proven to be a good move.”