Derek McInnes committed to leading Dons charge next season despite Sunderland link

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists he is committed to the challenge of leading the Dons next season.

McInnes’ men had to settle for runners-up medals for the second time this season after a 2-1 defeat by Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at Hampden on Saturday.

McInnes has been linked with the vacant managerial position at Sunderland but he believes his work at Pittodrie is far from finished and is already planning for the next campaign.

He said: “We’ll be ready to go again and I’ve said often enough I love working here. I feel at home here, it’s a brilliant club and it would take something special for me to want to leave.

“The work is ongoing. For the last seven or eight months we have been trying to implement plans to get players in here. We’ve tried really hard to keep one or two but the work is constant.

“We don’t get a chance to stop and reflect as from now the focus is on recruitment.”