Dons teed-up new deal and Del staying drove it over the line for Lewis

Joe Lewis didn’t need a lot of convincing to sign a new deal at Aberdeen – his family’s contentment and the city’s golf courses already had him halfway there.

All he needed to get pen to paper was the news gaffer Derek McInnes was staying.

The iron man keeper was the Dons’ biggest success story of the season after signing last summer, the only player in the Premiership to play every minute of every game en route to both PFA Scotland and the SPFL’s official teams of the year.

His reward was fresh terms – but the Dons’ prize was the news one of their top assets had committed to Pittodrie until the summer of 2020.

Speaking about his decision to commit without running down the final year of his deal, he revealed McInnes snubbing Sunderland was at its heart.

The 29-year-old said: “We had spoken about it for a while but it was nice to get it tied up. People expected the gaffer to go so it shows his commitment to the club.

“It also shows he has a lot of belief in what we can achieve. I don’t know the ins and outs but he spoke to Sunderland and realised he can probably achieve more here than he could down there.

“That was enough for me, almost. I didn’t need much more convincing about the manager’s belief in the club and it was a massive part of where I was coming from, a major factor.

“If he goes, you don’t know how quickly you can get a manager in or even if it’s the right man so obviously things could have stalled a little bit.

“He talks very well when he is selling this club to you but nothing he says can be stronger than his actions in turning down big jobs and staying at a club he obviously believes in.”

The former England Under-21 No.1 was a crucial piece of recruitment for McInnes last season after going through three keepers in the previous five months. But it was a rebirth for Lewis as well after just one Premier League appearance for Cardiff and two Championship loan spells – with Fulham and Blackpool.

He said: “This is a fantastic club with everyone pulling in the same direction. If a new manager comes in it can disrupt that a bit.

“We are delighted that didn’t happen. I said last season a major factor in my consistency was the manager showing belief in me. He gave me the chance to show what I can do again. You have to take everything into account, especially as you get a bit older, having kids and stuff like that. You have to make sure your family are happy. It’s a long way from my home in Norwich and my wife’s in Manchester.

“But there are flights, and more importantly we enjoy living up here, it’s a nice part of the world. I’m a keen golfer and there are plenty of courses.”

Despite Lewis’ decision to stick around for the long haul, the Dons have lost a sizeable chunk of the core which has served them so well for the past few seasons under McInnes.

The keeper, however, hasn’t lost faith. He said: “We have belief the club can get deals done. I know we start the season early but there’s plenty of time yet. No one is in a panic.

“And the manager showing that sort of commitment sends a message to any potential signing that this is a club which can still go forward.

“That will help attract players and there’s a chance for other lads to step up to the plate and fill that void.”

The other void needing filled is the one in the trophy cabinet. Three runners-up slots to Celtic last term enhance their belief rather than diminishing it, insists Lewis.

He said: “Losing the Cup Final in injury time was agonising but I’ve got a two-year-old at home so you don’t get much time to dwell on anything!

“We played really well, got in Celtic’s faces and had them on the back foot at times. If we can take the positives, hopefully that can make us hungrier to go one better this season.”

That confidence can also carry into a Europa League campaign he believes can see them reach the groups for the first time in a decade.

With the winners of Bosnians Siroki Brijeg and Ordabasy of Kazakhstan awaiting them in the second qualifying round, they need to make it through three ties to get there.

Lewis also feels they have last season’s disappointing defeat to NK Maribor to get over. He said: “It’s one of the reasons you come to a club like Aberdeen. European football is a massive draw but last year was very disappointing.

“There wasn’t much we could do as a team, it was just circumstances that day. But we need to try to look forward and we’ve one less tie to get through this time.”