The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Clark urges Gallagher to stay.
Dons: Clark lauds the Gallagher effect and hopes protege extends spell
Dons legend Bobby Clark hopes Aberdeen can extend Jon Gallagher’s stay at Pittodrie until the end of the season.
Goalkeeper Clark, who played almost 600 games for Aberdeen before becoming a college coach in the United States, counts Gallagher, pictured right, as one of his former players as the Irishman played under him at Notre Dame.
The 74-year-old, who has returned to Scotland following his retirement, is a regular visitor to Pittodrie and he hopes to see Gallagher, whose loan from Atlanta United is due to conclude at the end of
Celtic boss Neil Lennon next month, continue to contribute to the Dons in 2020.
Clark said: “He has done well. The only game where he struggled was against Celtic, although the whole team struggled in that game. Jon is a fighter and a warrior. He is tough mentally. I hope he stays a bit longer because it is fun to watch Aberdeen when one of my former players is involved.”
Gallagher was linked with a move to Celtic when he was at Notre Dame and Clark is not surprised to see his protege succeed in Scottish football.
He said: “There were rumours of Celtic. I think they were interested
Neil Lennon wants Celtic to end an unwanted record when they take on Lazio in Rome tonight.
The Hoops have not won in 12 trips to Italy, with three draws and nine defeats ahead of their Europa League clash at the Stadio Olimpico.
The Scottish champions beat Lazio 2-1 at Parkhead last month and are top of Group E with seven because he had been doing well for us and he is Irish, even though he has hardly lived in Ireland.
“He has been all over the world. I loved working with him for four years. He is a good person and smart kid, to see Jon do well is pleasing. The only thing he hasn’t done for Aberdeen that he did for me was to score goals. I points from three fixtures and now the Hoops boss is keen to win on Italian soil.
The Northern Irishman said: “Realistically it is going to be very difficult to win here. Records are there to be broken.
“We are going to have to play very well and take our chances if and when they should arise.
“We know we probably won’t dominate possession the way we would do normally in played him right up front in a 4-4-2 and he scored goals in that system.”
Clark was a guest at the opening of Aberdeen’s new training ground and community hub, Cormack Park, last week.
The Dons have named their youth academy after Clark in recognition of his contribution to the club as a player and coach.
He said: “I am humbled to be associated with Cormack Park and the youth academy, it is a fantastic facility. The five years I spent coaching the schoolboys was a great experience and it set me up for home games and we are going to have to show a huge amount of concentration and quality.”
Asked if the win against Lazio had given him confidence for the return match, the former Celtic midfielder said: “It was a classic game. Both teams played really well.
“We were winners on the night but we know how difficult the game is going to be.
“Lazio’s form of late a 40-year career.”
Clark has benefitted from coaching players at excellent facilities during his career in the US but he insists, as impressive as Cormack Park is, having the right personnel behind the scenes is crucial.
However, he is convinced Aberdeen have that in their management team and director of youth Neil Simpson.
He said: “It comes down to people like the Lenny Taylors and Teddy Scotts. You can have the best facility in the world but you need to have the right people. I was at some great universities in America, Stanford and Dartmouth, coaching has been really good. They had another great victory in the San Siro (against AC Milan) on Sunday so we are under no illusions how big the job is, to come here and try to get a result.”
Lennon expressed delight that midfielder Callum McGregor’s new five-year deal was confirmed before the Hoops flew out from Glasgow.
He said: “He has been but it was having the right people that made the difference.
“I think Aberdeen have the right people with Derek McInnes, Tony Docherty and Gordon Marshall and Simpson with the youths.
“Simmie was the first boy who came through our programme and graduated into the Aberdeen squad.
“So I believe Aberdeen have the right people in place. The biggest problem now is holding on to players.
“In our era you signed for life but Bosman, correctly, broke that. It is harder because you can nurture players but then you know you are going to lose them.” absolutely sensational over the last three or four seasons in terms of consistency, level of performance, game intelligence and his robustness.
“In my second spell here he has been absolutely wonderful.
“We knew there would be suitors for him so I am absolutely delighted, for the board backing me on this one, giving Callum the contract we think he deserves.”