Former Aberdeen attacker Eoin Jess says even in his playing days the club’s lack of training facilities compared to other clubs could get in the way of attracting players.
Thursday will see the club’s new £12 million Cormack Park site officially opened by ex-boss Sir Alex Ferguson, while Jess’ name will adorn one of the six pitches to be used by the first team, development squads and community.
Jess, who had two spells at the club, making 380 appearance and scoring 94 goals, told RedTV: “Alex Smith talked about it in his day – I can remember that when I was a youngster.
“It’ll be very popular and beneficial to the club when attracting players.
“Even when I went down south, it was like ‘oh Aberdeen …’ that mindset and it being such a cold place.
“I noticed the difference when I went to Coventry.
“They had their own site, training facility and you could do that little bit extra.”
Jess says it is “brilliant” to have been put forward by fans and have his name on one of the training pitches, alongside the likes of Willie Miller and Neale Cooper: “That’s the best you can get, for the fans to vote to have one of the pitches named after me.
“It’s humbling again, just like the Hall of Fame.
“It’s just a brilliant thing to have happened.”