‘We’ll cope without Wright’

DEREK McInnes insists Aberdeen now have the coping mechanisms which mean they do not have to fear Scott Wright’s Pittodrie exit.

The Scotland Under-21 man (right) is close to agreeing a pre-contract with Rangers, according to Ibrox manager Steven Gerrard.

McInnes has already confessed he is resigned to the winger moving on after seeing talks on a new deal stall but this is not the first time the Pittodrie manager has lost one of his key men. Scott McKenna was the latest to check out of the Granite City this summer as he made a £3m switch to Nottingham Forest, while the likes of Graeme Shinnie, Kenny McLean and Ryan Jack have also been prised away in recent seasons.

But Aberdeen continue to fly high in the upper reaches of the Premiership and McInnes says the days of fretting over big-name departures are long gone.

“You learn to deal with it and move on,” he said. “It’s about trying to keep those departures to a minimum.

“We’ve already lost Scott McKenna this season, who was arguably our best defender for a club record fee. Yet we’ve probably this season had a goals-against record that has been as good as any we’ve had. It shows there can be coping mechanisms.” Aberdeen travel to Dingwall today to face Ross County – and McInnes believes new boss John Hughes is the right man to lift the Staggies off the bottom of the table. He said: “I think it’s an inspired appointment. “I’ve got a lot of time for John and he’s clearly the type of manager who can go in and get a reaction.”