Talks won’t stall McInnes’ plans

ABERDEEN manager Derek McInnes remains hopeful he can get four players re-signed for next season but will not l et contract talks upset t he team’s focus.

McInnes denied reports that Niall McGinn, Ryan Jack, Peter Pawlett and Ash Taylor would hold off on deciding their futures until nearer t he end of t he campaign.

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s Premiership v i s i t o f R o s s C o u n t y, McInnes said: “We’ve got meetings with different players’ agents over the next week or two, which were in the diary and were part of the process.

“We are hopeful we will have some encouraging news over the next few weeks.”

Second-placed Aberdeen look set to be starting next season in June along with the rest of Scotland’s Europa League qualifiers and McInnes wants to have his squad in place early.

“We always try to work two windows ahead of ourselves in preparation of people going out of contract, maybe potentially losing players, and we have always been good at doing that work,” he said.

“I don’t want to be asked the same questions about certain players for the rest of the season but we do need that clarity over the next few weeks.

“We are not looking to get too bogged down one way or the other. If we can get them to re-sign, great, and if we don’t then, as much as keep an eye on our preparation for next season, it’s important we concentrate on this season as well.”

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes.