McInnes would be wise to dodge a bullet at Sunderland
WHEN it comes to football’s slippery ladder, the wise manager rolls the dice carefully. One bad throw and it’s back to square one, wriggling with the snakes.
Derek McInnes knows this already. Bristol City could have knocked him out of the English game for good.
But, this week, the bookies detected something in the air; an interest in Aberdeen’s manager from Sunderland.
The Black Cats haven’t brought much luck to their recent managers.
And, for Davie Moyes, they could yet prove to be the kiss of death.
Hard to believe now that it’s only 12 months since Celtic put two names at the top of their managerial wishlist.
Brendan Rodgers was one of them, Moyes the other.
Privately, senior Parkhead figures were blunt.
Celtic wouldn’t choose Rodgers or Moyes. The status of both men meant that it was up to them.
Rodgers overcame any misgivings over the standard of the SPFL to take the chance to stack up a few trophies. A salary in excess of £2million a year probably didn’t do any harm, either.
The decision could be vindicated this afternoon, should the Northern Irishman become only the third manager in Parkhead history to win a domestic clean sweep.
Contrast that with Moyes, a manager so out of work he’ll be flashing his knickers in the SFA’s direction if Gordon Strachan falls on his sword.
A year ago, the former boss of Manchester United was secure enough in his own skin to keep the Celtic board dangling on a string.
The Glaswegian began his playing career at Parkhead and his affection for the club was strong enough to meet Dermot Desmond in a London hotel. But it was never so strong that he was willing to commit to a return as manager.
When a man has coached Everton, Man United and Real Sociedad, the SPFL can feel like a backward step.
But Celtic were offering Moyes the opportunity to revive his stuttering career by leading a team with 60,000 crowds to the Champions League on £2m a year. Not a one-way ticket to the knacker’s yard.
Opting to stay in England, he chose Sunderland instead.
After just six wins in 38 games, relegation from the Premier League, a damaging sexism row and a humbling resignation, that doesn’t seem such a smart move now.
With Moyes gone, McInnes is the new favourite for the Stadium of Light gig. It’s not difficult to see why. McInnes is Aberdeen’s most successful manager in three decades.
Stop a Celtic Treble and shatter the Parkhead side’s unbeaten run at Hampden this afternoon, his stock will continue to move in an upward trajectory.
Fail, and he can still say he led the Pittodrie club to second place in every major competition against the best Celtic team in 14 years and a Rangers squad with a superior budget.
It’s four years since the Dons boss was relieved of his first crack at management in England.
If there’s an itch to return to English football, earn a few quid and have another go, good luck to him. He deserves it.
But Sunderland are no one’s idea of a footballing balm.
Seeking their eighth permanent manager since Roy Keane left back in 2008, this is a football club more likely to bring a man out in hives.
Their last annual figures showed a loss of £33m and a net debt of £110.4m.
The new man’s first job is to cull the squad and playing budget following relegation to the Championship.
Aberdeen are hardly swimming in cash, either. But they have cleared their historic debt, even if it’s unclear how they propose to fund a new stadium, assuming planning permission ever arrives.
Neither does the loss of key players like Niall McGinn and Ryan Jack this summer make McInnes’ job any easier. Celtic are in a league of their own and, with Rangers ready to throw what cash they have at Pedro Caixinha, McInnes is no fool. He knows the good times won’t roll forever.
But, right now, Aberdeen are solid citizens of the Scottish game. The current manager enjoys a level of job security he won’t find at too many other clubs. Least of all Sunderland.
Only Davie Moyes can say if he harbours private regrets over his decision to join the Black Cats last year.
But events of the last 12 months leave Celtic feeling like they dodged a bullet.
The kind of bullet Derek McInnes should duck clear of if he lifts the Scottish Cup and wakes up to a missed call from a Tyne and Wear dial code.