The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
May says McInnes was crucial factor
Stevie May said Aberdeen might have lost out on his signature had Derek McInnes not still been Pittodrie boss.
The former St Johnstone frontman has returned to Scotland after three years south of the border and signed a four-year contract at Pittodrie.
He has been top of McInnes’ shopping list all summer and the Reds boss finally got his man late on Thursday night after handing Preston an undisclosed fee.
May says McInnes – who came close to quitting the Dons in June, only to turn down Sunderland – was the key reason behind his decision to make the switch back to his homeland after frustrating stints at Sheffield Wednesday and North End.
The 24-year-old Scotland international, who was given his Saints debut by McInnes at the age of 16, said: “Derek was a big part in my decision.
“There’s no two ways about it. If he had left, I probably wouldn’t be here.”
May was tipped as a potential Scotland star after landing an £800,000 move to Hillsborough.
But things did not work out as he planned at Wednesday and he was moved on to Deepdale just over a year later.
Things did not get much better for the Perth-born poacher as a serious knee injury ruled him out for 15 months.
But now that he is back to full fitness, May is determined to prove wrong the doubters down south.
He goes straight into the Aberdeen squad for today’s Ladbrokes Premiership trip to Ross County.
Fellow frontman Adam Rooney will also make the journey through to Dingwall after recovering from his thigh injury.