Last night the Scottish Premier Football League’s top man demanded answers from betting firm Ladbrokes.
Neil Doncaster ordered an immediate probe yesterday afternoon following anger from Aberdeen FC over rumours that Derek McInnes was about to be sacked.
The bookmakers firm ‘revealed’ through their PR department that Ladbrokes had ceased betting on McInnes being the next top-flight boss to lose his job.
The bookies then put the Dons boss as a 4/1 front runner to replace Gordon Strachan in Hampden.
Immediately after the story hit the online rumour mill, Aberdeen FC released this statement: “The club can confirm Derek McInnes remains the manager of Aberdeen Football Club.
“The various rumours which have been circulating this afternoon on social media are without substance and we would question the motivation of those individuals looking to unsettle the club.“
Earlier in the day Ladbrokes released the following statement: “Betting odds on McInnes leaving Aberdeen has gone into meltdown according to Ladbrokes.
“The Dons boss has always been an outsider at 25/1 but after getting backed into 10/11 it left the bookmaker no option but to suspend the market.”
After conducting an investigation yesterday, the SPFL concluded that the Ladbrokes publicity machine had been fuelled by a sudden flurry of bets placed on McInnes leaving Pittodrie.
It is understood that a parody Twitter account suggesting McInnes was about to be sacked provided the spark which prompted the betting spree.