The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Hope Hayes wings way back
Aberdeen defender Ash Taylor believes Jonny Hayes will be a fantastic addition for the Dons.
Hayes, pictured, is in talks about securing his return to Pittodrie, three years after leaving the club in a £1 million move to Celtic.
The former Caley Thistle winger was a team-mate of Taylor’s in his first spell at the club and the Englishman would love to see Hayes rejoin the club.
He said: “He is a player I do know well. I’ve played with him and against him. I’ve heard all the rumours but if the club can get something sorted out to bring in someone of Jonny Hayes’ calibre it will be great for the team.
“I Zoom-quiz every week with Jonny, Adam Rooney and Mark Reynolds so I speak to him on a regular basis. He’s missed the last two to be fair so I haven’t spoken to him for a couple of weeks but me and the missus are on three wins in a row at the minute.
“I know what type of player he is, what he brings, what type of character he is and what he brings to the changing room so it would be fantastic for us but the circumstances we’re in you never know what could happen.”
Hayes will be the third former Don to return for Aberdeen if he signs the two-year deal on offer from the club, joining Niall McGinn and Taylor who are both at Pittodrie in their second spells.
Taylor, who returned to Aberdeen from Northampton
Town last summer, is not surprised players are attracted back to the Dons after leaving.
He points to the support offered by the club not just to players but to their families as being hard to resist and the addition of Cormack Park, the club’s training ground which opened last year, has added to the overall attraction. He said: “It is like we are getting all the band back together again. It is a fantastic club that looks after you both on and off the pitch.
“It is well run and got great people there. You feel part of the family when you come here because they look after you so well.
“They make sure you are settled and make sure your family are OK as well. I think that plays a big part in players coming back especially when they have other choices.
“They realise what Aberdeen offers in terms of the whole package. Some clubs can’t offer you that.
“That is why players are drawn to Aberdeen again when the offer is there on the table.”