Dons can handle player exits, insists Mcinnes

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 ace is close to agreeing a pre-contract switch to Rangers, according to Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard.

Mcinnes has already confessed he is resigned to the winger – who has enjoyed a loan spell with Dundee – moving on after seeing talks on a new deal stall.

But this is not the first time the Dons boss has been forced to wave goodbye to one of his key men.

Scott Mckenna was the latest to check out of the Granite City last summer as he made a £3 million 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 bigname 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.

“Some players leave and it’s a big hole to fill.

“We’ll try with whatever players we lose between now and next season to carry on because that’s the way it is here.

“We want to develop players and move them on to bigger and better things.

“But we want that on the back of them playing and contributing to Aberdeen’s first team for a period of time.

“That’s the only frustration if Scott isn’t to re-sign with us. I feel that it’s that bit too early for him.”

Rangers are keen to fastforward Wright’s move to Glasgow and are willing to offer up a player exchange if a deal can be done this month.

The third-placed Dons 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.”