Taylor aiming to win over Dons fans again

Ash Taylor wants to win over his doubters by showing he is a better player and helping Aberdeen reach the group stages of the Europa League.

Taylor knows the reaction to his return to Pittodrie after two seasons in England with Northampton Town has been mixed among the Dons support but he plans to prove himself all over again in his second spell at Pittodrie.

He said: “I’m not the most sparkling signing am I? The re-signing of a former player is not what the fans want, they want the excitement of a new player and I understand that.

“But I’m coming back more experienced, more level-headed and I know what I am and what the club and manager requires from a player.

“I was made captain six months into my time at Northampton and it helped me on a personal level in terms of how I handle myself around the squad. It brought a maturity out in me and I took it in my stride.

“I played in some brilliant European games here and I want to help us get that bit further and into the groups now.”

It was a chance meeting with the Dons head of recruitment Russ Richardson which set the wheels in motion for Taylor’s return to the club.

Taylor had decided it was time to leave Northampton following a breakdown in his relationship with Cobblers boss Keith Curle and the chance to work with a manager who he has a strong relationship with in Derek McInnes provided the perfect opportunity for a fresh start.

He said: “Derek is the best manager I’ve worked with and the best manager in Scotland. That’s why I jumped at the chance to come back up here.

“It was a chance meeting with Russ. I was in the reception as I wasn’t involved in the squad and he walked in to pick up tickets. I said ‘what are you doing here? I’m not playing.’

“I made a few jokes then he asked if I would be interested in coming back and I told him I’d bite his hand off, and it all happened from there.

“The way things were shaping up at Northampton I probably would have picked up the phone to the manager as I was looking to get out anyway but I’ve moved on and it’s all about Aberdeen now.”

Taylor is reluctant to discuss the events which led to his departure from Northampton but it is clear his relationship with his former manager had deteriorated.

He said: “My first year at Northampton went really well on a personal level but you could write a book about what went wrong in the second year. I don’t want to go into it all as I prefer to look at the positives of coming back here.

“I didn’t get on with the manager. It wasn’t about ability, he didn’t want to work with me as I had an opinion and there was a clash of personalities.

“I was part of the group as I was the captain and I was on the lads’ side but I was frozen out of the squad in the last four weeks of the season for some unknown reason. Things didn’t work out the way they should have.”

Aberdeen’s first pre-season game ended in a 0-0 draw with Connah’s Quay Nomads at Fota Island Resort on Saturday.

The Dons faced a motivated, sharper side playing their third match who executed a gameplan aimed at containing and frustrating to perfection.

Nomads are preparing for their Europa League test against Kilmarnock on July 11.

Ash Taylor: feels he has returned to Dons a more experienced and level-headed player after his spell at Northampton.