The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
DONS BLOCK GERS MOVE FOR McINNES
Tug o war starts: Light Blues finally make McInnes move but approach is rejected
Aberdeen last night showed they are not prepared to give up their manager without a fight after refusing Rangers permission to talk to Derek McInnes.
After weeks of speculation linking McInnes with the Ibrox vacancy, the Light Blues finally made their move last night.
But their initial approach for the 46-year-old, who is under contract until 2020, was rejected in a short 27-word statement which read: “Aberdeen Football Club has announced this evening that Rangers have contacted the club asking for permission to speak to Derek McInnes and that permission has been refused.”
The Dons are believed to want Rangers to pay £800,000 up front and in full before they are prepared to grant them permission to talk to McInnes, with Rangers’ initial offer failing to meet the required compensation.
Championship club Sunderland agreed compensation with Aberdeen for McInnes but the former St Johnstone and Bristol City manager opted to remain at Pittodrie. But while the Light Blues’ first approach has been rejected, Rangers are unlikely to be dissuaded and look sure to make another attempt to lure McInnes back to Glasgow.
Despite Rangers’ approach being rejected, Gothenburg Great Neale Cooper believes the Dons will still be drawing up a shortlist in case the move goes ahead.
The Ibrox club parted company with Pedro Caixinha on October 26 and, after six weeks, McInnes has finally emerged as their preferred candidate.
Cooper says there is no chance the Dons will take anywhere near as long to replace McInnes should he make the move to Govan. Former Wolves manager Paul Lambert, St Johnstone’s Tommy Wright, St Mirren’s Jack Ross and former Scotland manager Alex McLeish are among the possible candidates who have already been linked with the post should McInnes exit the club.
Cooper said: “The board has to be looking at possible replacements with everything that has been said. There are people out there who would love the opportunity. It is a fantastic club. I have never seen a board of directors and a chairman get on so well with a manager as they do with Derek McInnes. It works both ways. Derek has done well for them and they have done well for Derek.
“The close relationship he has with Stewart Milne is very positive but who knows what will happen. Until anything does happen, Derek is still the manager of Aberdeen and he will be doing his utmost to get the side back winning again.”
Sunday’s 2-1 defeat by Rangers means the Dons have taken four points from a possible 15 ahead of Friday’s trip to face Dundee.
Cooper added: “The two games against Rangers were disappointing.
“When all that speculation is going around, it must be difficult for the players as they don’t know what is happening.
“Will he still be in the dugout for Friday’s Dundee match? I don’t know. It won’t be easy as Dundee have started to pick up some wins. Whatever happens with the manager, they need a win this Friday.”
“The close relationship he has with Stewart Milne is very positive”