Don’t panic: No rush over Ferguson’s Dons terms

Derek McInnes insists Aberdeen are in no panic over Lewis Ferguson’s contract situation.

The Dons midfielder has been a major hit at Pittodrie since moving north from Hamilton on a four-year deal in the summer.

The 19-year-old announced himself to the Reds faithful with a sensational Europa League strike at Burnley in August and followed that up with the Betfred Cup semi-final winner against his dad Derek and uncle Barry’s old team Rangers.

It was reported after those Hampden heroics that McInnes was preparing to offer Ferguson fresh terms just four months on from his Accies switch, but while talks have begun the Scotland Under-21 ace has yet to put pen to paper.

That has alarmed some members of the Red Army, who fear their young midfield battler could follow Scott McKenna on to the wishlists of cash-rich clubs down south.

McInnes, though, is remaining relaxed as he predicted Ferguson will become a firm fixture in the Granite City for years to come.

He said: “There’s no real panic on that side of it (his contract). We’re pretty relaxed and confident we can get Lewis extended.

“He’s clearly enjoying it here and his performances are an indication of that as well. He’s someone who’s going to have a good career ahead of him and is certainly going about it in the right way.

“Hopefully we’ve got Lewis for many years to come and that was the intention when we signed him and it’s still the intention now.”

The Dons host Oran Kearney’s newlook St Mirren today.

l Craig Levein hopes Steven Naismith’s revived Scotland career can help persuade the forward to stay at Hearts – who are away to Motherwell tomorrow – beyond the summer.

On-loan Naismith is considering a move to the United States when his Norwich contract expires but remains in talks over a permanent switch to Hearts.

l Hibernian chief executive Leeann Dempster insisted nobody was offered the job of head coach other than Paul Heckingbottom.

Michael Appleton was widely tipped to take over early this week but contract talks reportedly broke down and Heckingbottom was confirmed in the role late on Wednesday.

When asked if anybody else was offered the job, Dempster said: “No. You have got to give discretion to the candidates involved and the only candidate that I’m going to speak about is the candidate we ultimately appointed and ultimately we want to be the head coach here.

“I don’t think it’s right to go back and look at the process itself.”

Heckingbottom’s first game in charge is today against Hamilton Accies at Easter Road.