McInnes sad to see fellow manager sacked but shrugs off links to hotseat in Govan

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes has expressed sympathy for Mark Warburton – but scoffed at suggestions he is ready to become his Rangers replacement.

Warburton’s time at Ibrox ended last Friday in shambolic fashion, with the club claiming their manager had resigned – only for the Englishman to deny he had quit.

The ins and outs of that debate are likely to be settled in the courts but for now Rangers are on the hunt for a new manager.

McInnes’ impressive performance with Aberdeen – whom he led to a League Cup triumph back in 2014 – has been recognised by the bookmakers, with his name second only behind ex-Rangers and Scotland boss Alex McLeish, the frontrunner to land the job on an interim basis.

But speaking to the media ahead of the Pittodrie side’s midweek Ladbrokes Premiership clash with Motherwell, McInnes insisted his focus remained firmly on his current posting in the Granite City.

He said: “I’ve never been one to talk about speculation and rumour and gossip and I don’t see why another club’s speculation affects what I am doing.

“This is a press conference about the Motherwell game tomorrow. I am fully focused on my job here.

“My only concern is about focusing on Aberdeen.

“Rangers are a strong club with a lot of tradition and there will always be people interested in that – but my concern is on Aberdeen.”

Rangers chairman Dave King released a critical statement in the wake of Warburton’s exit in which he questioned his former manager’s signing policy, while also claiming the former city trader was using Rangers as a stepping stone to the English Premier League.

The former Brentford manager is

now consulting the English League Manager’s Association as he decides his next course of action.

But McInnes admits he was sad to see the 54-year-old go after just 18 months in charge.

“It’s disappointing to see a manager lose his job,” he said. “I always liked Mark and certainly in the initial period he did really well.

“He was still in the mix for second spot and was still in the Scottish Cup – but for whatever reason there has been a change.”

As well as McLeish and McInnes, St Johnstone’s Tommy Wright, former Nottingham Forrest manager Billy Davies and former Rangers defender Frank De Boer – out of work since being sacked by Inter Milan in November – are also in the running.

However, that the Ibrox board are willing to take their time with their search and have already received “several” approaches from willing applicants.

Meanwhile, McInnes admits he is greedy for more as his side look to move three points clear in the race for second.

Aberdeen can put daylight between themselves and Rangers in the Premiership if they beat Motherwell at home on tonight.

McInnes’ men are level on 43 points with the Ibrox outfit but have a vastly superior goal difference and have played a game less.

Now, after a run of seven wins from their last eight games, the Pittodrie side can take a firm lead when they play their match in hand against Mark McGhee’s side. McInnes said: “We’re keen to keep the run going. The 1-0 defeat at Celtic apart, we’ve been very strong but I still want more.

“I want even better performances but if results keep coming I’ll be delighted.”