The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
West Brom McInnes link
Manager merry-go-round: DonsbossamongWestBromfavouritesasPulisgoes
The saga surrounding Derek McInnes’ position took a fresh twist yesterday when the Rangers target was installed as one of the contenders at West Bromwich Albion.
“We’ve had no requests from anyone to speak to Derek”
The saga surrounding Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes’ position at Pittodrie took a fresh twist yesterday when the Rangers target was installed as one of the leading contenders at West Brom.
Dons manager McInnes has been heavily linked with the vacant job at Ibrox for three weeks after the sacking of Pedro Caixinha but West Brom, another of the Aberdeen manager’s former clubs, are now looking for a new boss of their own after sacking Tony Pulis yesterday.
McInnes is among the bookmakers’ favourites to replace Pulis, while Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill and former England manager Sam Allardyce have also been linked with the role.
Aberdeen chairman Stewart Milne, meanwhile, last night underlined there has been no approach for McInnes.
He said: “We’ve had no requests from anyone to speak to Derek. The reality is if a manager is doing well in Scotland then if vacancies come about in England there’s a high chance that Derek McInnes or some other manager in Scotland will be associated with that job.
“Speculation will always be out there and it’s a good sign in as much that they only speculate about managers who are doing well. Everyone knows the fantastic job Derek has done over the last four years and speculation is just something we have to deal with.
“I don’t want to speculate on any hypothetical situations but we will deal with situations if and when they arise.
“If there is an offer for Derek we’ll work as hard as we can to convince him there’s still a job to be done at Aberdeen.”
Former West Brom club captain McInnes remains a popular figure with the Baggies supporters and his appointment as manager would be welcomed by fans there. He spent three seasons with West Brom and was captain when they won promotion to the Premier League in 2002.
Gary Megson, who will take charge of Albion first team duties until a replacement is found, paid Rangers £450,000 for McInnes and the Aberdeen manager made 100 appearances and scored six goals between July 2000 and July 2003.
The work he has done in Scottish football has not gone unnoticed by his former club and McInnes has admirers within the Hawthorns.
Pulis, 59, paid the price for a miserable run at the Hawthorns, having won just two of his last 21 Premier League games in charge at the club.
Saturday’s 4- 0 defeat by Chelsea was the Baggies’ 11th game in a row without a win and Pulis departs with the club one point above the relegation zone in English football’s top flight.
Albion chairman John Williams said: “We are in a results business and over the back end of last season and this season to date, ours have been very disappointing.”
Despite near daily links with Rangers, McInnes has dismissed the reports of an approach from Ibrox as speculation and insists he is happy at Pittodrie.
West Brom’s search for a manager could be about to test the Dons boss’ resolve.