YOGI: IT IS HARD TO STAY
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JOHN HUGHES reckons being a top-flight boss feels like a game of hot potato with title-winning Rangers manager Steven Gerrard the Premiership’s longest-serving one.
The Ross County gaffer knows the pressure has been cranked up, borne out by the fact Derek McInnes’ departure from Aberdeen this week has seen half the clubs change coach this season.
Gerrard is now seeing the fruits of his labour in his third season with Gers.
But Yogi believes that if it had been someone of a lesser standing they might not have got that time at Ibrox, where he went two seasons without a trophy.
He said: “Rangers gave him time to get it right. If it wasn’t him or someone with his profile, would he have got it? Probably not. But they did and got their reward.”
Hughes is well aware with social media and no fans in grounds that the scrutiny is ramped up.
He said: “Pressure is greater now and we have to get used to it because it’s a results business. The biggest asset any manager can have is time so you can put your stamp on it and get the team playing your style of play. You need backing and time. You have all the keyboard wizards and expectation is huge.
“It’s a very dangerous thing, the most important thing is to be humble. When you win, be humble because football has a habit of kicking you in the backside.”
Yogi was disappointed to see McInnes leave Aberdeen after leading them into Europe seven years on the bounce but believes that call will see Hibs seal third spot.
He said: “Third place will be touch and go. I was surprised by what happened at Aberdeen,
BACKED McINNES Hughes the rumours were that Derek was leaving at the end of the season anyway.
“But now Aberdeen don’t have a manager, I’d expect Hibs to go and seal the deal for third place.
“I texted Derek and only time will tell how good a job he’s done up there.”
County will try to halt Hibs’ charge when they travel to the Global Energy Stadium tomorrow.
It will see Yogi come up against his former player Jack Ross and he knows he’ll be able to get the inside track on his team. He laughed and said: “I’ll know what Jack’s team is, I’ll know the starting 11 by the time the game comes around.
“When Jack played for me at Falkirk, he’ll remember I always had the team for Hibs on a Friday thanks to my connections. I used to tell my players I knew the Hibs team on a Friday every week. 1043 days – Steven Gerrard (Rangers) 771 days – Brian Rice (Hamilton) 623 days - Jim Goodwin (St Mirren) 483 days – Jack Ross (Hibs) 267 days – Callum Davidson (St Johnstone) 249 days – Micky Mellon (Dundee United) 106 days – David Martindale (Livingston) 82 days – John Hughes (Ross County) 64 days – Graham Alexander (Motherwell) 32 days – Tommy Wright (Kilmarnock) Vacant – John Kennedy caretaker (Celtic) Vacant – Paul Sheerin caretaker (Aberdeen)
“Reading this will put a smile on Jack’s face!
“I’m short of one – I don’t know yet whether it will be Christian Doidge or Kevin Nisbet.”
Hughes also revealed County knocked back an approach from Inverness for Billy Mckay in January.
He said: “Inverness have been all over it for months and months. Although we are rivals, a lot of players from Inverness end up here and vice versa.
“There’s no baggage, that’s the reason – they don’t have to move. They were sniffing about Billy.”
LEADERSHIP QUALITY Hibs boss Ross says McInnes, right, will be back
JACK ROSS and his Hibs squad may have done as much damage as anyone in Derek McInnes’ final weeks in charge of Aberdeen.
But the Easter Road manager will forever be indebted to the axed Dons boss for his support, particularly when he was on the end of a similarly painful exit at Sunderland just 17 months ago.
Ross is determined to take full advantage of Aberdeen’s upheaval to ensure his side steam ahead in the race for third place.
It’s just the brutal nature of a job in which the 44-year-old knows only too well there is little room for loyalty.
Indeed, the defeat dished out to the Dons in Leith just over a month ago could be pinpointed as the moment of no return for McInnes at Pittodrie – despite the dreaded vote of confidence from Dave Cormack in the aftermath of that 2-0 reverse.
Ross takes no pleasure from seeing his counterpart come to the end of an eight-year reign.
And ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Ross County, which could see Hibs motor six points clear of the Dons, he said: “The respect I’ve got for Derek is huge.
“He was really supportive and helpful to me, from when I was Alloa manager to being St Mirren manager.
“He spoke at length to me when I lost my job at Sunderland because he had gone through a similar experience at Bristol City.
“When you speak to people who have walked in the same shoes as you, their advice or the experiences they can share have real value.
“He knows how it feels, it’s sore. I like how he speaks and how he operates, he is a straight talker.
“It will be a big change for Aberdeen. He was someone who led that club for a significant period and led them well.
“That leadership goes beyond the result on a matchday.
“It covers so many facets of a football club. I’m sure there will be a lot of people who will miss him, his staff around the place and the leadership qualities that Derek had.”
In a sliding doors scenario, McInnes turned down the Black Cats a year before Ross was appointed at the Stadium of Light.
He also rejected Rangers in favour of staying in the Granite City.
The former Ibrox midfielder