Training ground trumps stadium for the manager

DEREK McINNES insists Aberdeen’s plans for a new training ground are of far greater importance than the headline proposal for a new purpose-built stadium.

Chief executive Duncan Fraser confirmed the club will this week submit an application for planning permission on a £50million project that would see them quit Pittodrie for Kingsford on the west of the city.

While Fraser argued the club is overdue an upgrade on its tired Pittodrie home, he acknowledged McInnes is more concerned to have a fit-for-purpose daily working environment for his players.

The Dons boss was forced to chop and change practice arrangements after taking the reins in March 2013 and, although the use of a facility at Balgownie has since been secured, the players are required to shuttle back and forward from the stadium.

The Kingsford blueprint features a new training base and McInnes is desperate to see it pushed through. ‘There is a lot of momentum at the club with the plans we have for the future,’ he said. ‘But the training ground is most important. As good as the stadium sounds, it will be secondary to the training ground for me.

‘It’s three-and-a-half years now and we are still no further forward than having a real burning desire to drive it home from the chairman. I hope we can get there and I know there is a will on the club’s part to drive that through.’

McInnes led the club to League Cup glory in 2014 and finished runners-up to Celtic in the past two Premiership campaign. He covets more silverware but believes more can be done to give his players the best possible chance of success.

‘We are professional in every other aspect of the football side,’ he added. ‘We recruit well, we prepare well and look after the details.

‘But much as we take pride in our work, the lack of a training ground is where we fall short. The plan is there to have it on the same site as the proposed stadium and it needs to happen.’