Dons ready to move on from McInnes era, insists skipper Lewis

ABERDEEN skipper Joe Lewis insists they are ready to move on from the emotional exit of Derek McInnes and put everything into a crucial couple of months.

McInnes and assistant Tony Docherty departed Pittodrie after a goalless draw with Hamilton left the Dons with only one goal from nine matches.

Paul Sheerin has taken interim charge with assistance from former Aberdeen midfielders Barry Robson and Neil Simpson ahead of today’s clash with Dundee United at Tannadice.

Aberdeen are six points off third place, which could yet offer a passport to European group stage football, and six ahead of Livingston, who are looking to move up into the guaranteed European places.

The Scottish Cup is also set to get under way for the top-flight teams and Lewis knows they cannot afford to dwell on the departure of their management team.

“Derek was here for eight years and the full five years I have been here,” the goalkeeper said.

“There is always a bit of upheaval, a strange feeling when the manager leaves, I have experienced it before at other clubs. For some people here, especially the younger lads, it will be the first time they have experienced it.

“It is never ideal but we have had a good bit of training over the last 10 days. Probably not having a game last weekend was a bit of a blessing. It allowed us to get rid of the emotions of last week.

“Now we have been training really well and focusing on what is a big game on Saturday.

“It’s not been a great season up to now, we have not really hit a great run of form at any stage and there is no better time to do it than now.”

Joe Lewis has called on Dons to hit great run of form.