DEREK MCINNES was only a few weeks into his new job at Pittodrie when he realised just how far Aberdeen had fallen from grace.
He was sitting at the PFA Scotland Player of the Year awards dinner in Glasgow where the great and good were hailed for their efforts over the season. His team barely rated a mention.
That’s when it struck McInnes and right hand man Tony Docherty the size of the task they had taken on. Four years on and the club they first walked into has changed almost beyond recognition.
A cup has been won, two other finals reached, three second places all-but secured and yesterday four players were named in the PFA team of the season by their fellow pros.
“I remember when I first in charge, right at the few weeks at the back end of the season, going to an award ceremony at the Fruitmarket in Glasgow with Tony and I think Niall McGinn had maybe been dominated for team of the year,” recalled McInnes.
“But from all the montages and all the highlights of the season that were getting played, we were an absolute irrelevance.
"We were a non-event as club. Everybody else was getting awards, everybody else was getting recognised, and we took a staff table and there was just no real relevance for Aberdeen in the whole campaign.
“I remember talking to Tony afterwards and saying we need to make sure that changes and make sure we're at the forefront of any awards come the end of the season. I think we've done that every year.
“It was probably a realisation about how other people viewed us. It was only ourselves that could change that perception by getting back credibility and respect. We had to make necessary changes.”
Hayes is a nominee for Player of the Year, McInnes is up for the manager’s prize and while it’s unlikely either will win, that can’t take away from what has been another good season for Aberdeen.
“There might have been a case at the start of the season where people thought that maybe Aberdeen were going to be pushed aside a wee bit and we wouldn't be as prominent this time, “ said McInnes.
“The make-up of that team shows that we've got players who have had very good seasons and that's been recognised.
“Different players have been involved too – Shay Logan's been in every team and there is Adam Rooney, Johnny Hayes, Niall McGinn, Graeme Shinnie, Ryan Jack and Kenny McLean, there's been loads of players nominated for different awards so it's good to show that we've got a bit of strength come the end of the season. I'm pleased with that to be honest.”
Aberdeen are at Tynecastle on Sunday and the club’s own player of the year, Andrew Considine, expected more from their opponents.
“I am surprised by Hearts as I thought they would be our closest challengers this season,” he said. “I expected a lot more of them but when we play them down there it is always a tough game.”
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