Aberdeen legend Willie Miller has urged the Pittodrie board to tie down Derek McInnes on a long-term deal because he fears top clubs will chase the Dons manager if he can deliver a cup double this season.
Miller believes McInnes is starting to build something very special at Aber-deen and insists the manager will become legendary in his own right if the Dons lift the League Cup next weekend and then go on to claim the Scottish Cup.
Even although McInnes had a difficult time in England with Bristol City, Miller feels other English sides would sit up and take notice if Dons manager ends a 19-year barren run for the success-starved Red Army.
Miller said: “It has been that long without a trophy. If Derek can take one then he will be right up there. If he can take two in his first full season at the club, then it has to make him legendary.
“It could be the beginning of something special. The problem whenever you get success is holding on to your players and the manager. I’m sure a lot of the players will be under the microscope of other clubs and Derek, too – although he has had a trip south which didn’t work out.
“If he continues to build things and be successful and bring trophies to Aber- deen on a regular basis, just like Fergie, someone will come chapping. So it would be prudent to get him on a longer contract sooner rather later.
“It seems most of the players are happy to re-sign for Aberdeen, so if the players are enjoying it and the manager is successful then, yes, get the manager on a longer-term contract. We all know that contracts don’t really mean anything if someone comes calling anyway. But it sends out a message the manager is happy at the club and the directors are happy.
“The other aspect is that success will make Aber- deen more attractive. It would give them a better platform to convince players to come to the club.
“Financially, they are in good shape. I think Aber- deen have always tried to be reasonably sensible. They have pushed the boat out a few times but they have been sensible in the last decade. So financially, they are in a position to give players the kind of financial remuneration that would bring them there. If you could add the two aspects together – finance and football – they should be in a better position.”
Miller knows there is huge excitement and anticipation among the Aber-deen supporters who have snapped up nearly 40,000 tickets for next weekend’s League Cup final and fully expect the Dons to beat Dumbarton today and march on in the Scottish Cup.
He said: “To sell 40,000 tickets for the League Cup final is quite incredible. I thought between 25,000 and 30,000 would have been an exceptional turnout. But if you’re talking about 40,000 – it’s unprecedented in Aberdeen’s history. It has caught fire for a number of reasons. There is a lot of pent-up frustration after some early exits in cup competitions to lower-league teams.
“There’s a desire to win both cups now. To do that and finish second in the Premiership would be like a clean sweep.”