Magennis hoping Aberdeen don’t swoop for O’Neill

NORTHERN IRELAND striker Josh Magennis is praying that Aberdeen’s interest in Michael O’Neill doesn’t see history repeat itself. The Pittodrie club remain in the hunt for Neil Warnock’s successor, with the 54-year-old Northern Ireland manager’s name strongly linked, along with Alex Neil and Neil Lennon. On Monday, O’Neill (pictured) remained coy on the speculation that has mounted since he attended the Dons’ recent match with St Mirren. Magennis, an Aberdeen player between 2010 and 2014, can fully understand how tempting the job would be. However, having seen O’Neill leave the international post for club football before — he joined Stoke City in 2019 — the 33-year-old Wigan player would prefer his old club to look elsewhere. ‘I’ve seen him linked with Aberdeen,’ said Magennis. ‘When you’re doing well and are successful, a light shines on you. ‘Listen, I don’t want to lose him for a second time. It broke my heart the first time. Michael is not daft and he knows his way around. ‘It’s not just the lure of Aberdeen. They are one of the biggest clubs in Scotland with a great history. ‘He will take everything into account and look at everything from head to toe if that becomes an option. Only he will know if it is the right move. ‘I don’t want him to go, personally. I like him and I hope he likes me because he picks me.’ The Dons have spent the international break speaking to candidates but, as things stand, Peter Leven is poised to take charge again for Saturday’s crucial home match with Ross County. Magennis, who also played for St Mirren and Kilmarnock, believes the interim manager can be trusted to steady the ship until they get their man. ‘Peter Leven, I had at Kilmarnock,’ he recalled. ‘I worked under him with Allan Johnston and then Lee McCulloch. Peter is astute. He knows the game and has the trust of the players. He’s more than capable of taking that job until they get the manager they want. ‘I think they’ll find out in the next few days. You want a manager in so he can stamp his authority on things between now and the end of the season. ‘Hopefully, they get the right manager and push on to where they need to be.’ Warnock’s successor will be the fifth permanent appointment in three years, with chairman Dave Cormack under enormous pressure to get this one right. Magennis, whose former club are just three points above the Premiership play-off spot, added: ‘There’s no denying that, since Derek McInnes left, the club has been inconsistent. It’s not good to see Aberdeen in the position they are. Hopefully, they pick a manager that gets them back where they should be — at the top of Scottish football. As long as it’s not Michael O’Neill.’