Steven Pressley has thrown his hat into the ring to become the next Aberdeen boss.
The 47 year-old, who grew up as a Dons fan, says it’s a position he thinks he’d be suited to after Derek McInnes lost his job following a record of only one win in nine matches in the Scottish Premiership.
Aberdeen have slipped to fourth in the league, behind Hibs, and after eight years in charge, Dons chairman Dave Cormack decided it was time for McInnes to go.
Pressley, who’s managed Falkirk, Coventry City, Fleetwood Town, Pafos in Cyprus and Carlisle United, told The Essential Scottish Football Podcast, there’s huge potential at Pittodrie.
He said: “I would fancy the Aberdeen job of course.
“I’ve said on a number of occasions I was an Aberdeen supporter growing up. “It’s a club that’s got very good young players which has been very prominent in my managerial tenures, developing young players, developing a young, energetic squad.
“They’ve got a terrific support. You can create an intensity in their stadium. “Of course, it’s a job that I would very much consider. “It’s a job that I think I’d be suited for and it’s a really exciting opportunity for somebody, there’s no doubt about that.”
Presley, who played for Rangers, Coventry, Dundee United, Celtic, Falkirk and has 32 Scotland caps, reckons Cormack’s decision to pull out of a recent Q & A session with fans proves the Atlanta-based businessman had doubts of his own about McInnes’ future.
“I would argue that the reason that Cormack did not address the Aberdeen fans was because deep down he must have had his own doubts and to come out and face the supporters and support your manager, you have to be doing that knowing that that is the case," he continued.
“Obviously that wasn’t in his mind.“If you ask me, the truth is that Derek had a wonderful, wonderful relationship with (former Aberdeen chairman) Stewart Milne, there’s no doubt about that.
“But I genuinely think from the outside looking in that, since the appointment of Dave Cormack, I don’t think the dynamic between Derek and Dave has been anything like that of Derek and Stewart Milne. Nothing at all.
“And, there’s nothing wrong with that. Dave has come in and he might have his own ideas and the type of manager he’s looking at. Derek isn’t that profile. So, he’s decided to make changes because he wants to bring in his own man.”
Pressley is also hitting back at critics of McInnes.He continued: “Derek was a success. Derek was Football Writers’ Manager of the Year. He had three second place finishes in succession. He won the Cup.
“He’s brought in a lot of funds to that club with the development of some players and the selling off of those players. So he’s done many, many good things and always kept Aberdeen at the top end of the table.
“Yes, the last two or three months of his tenure were disappointing but you’ve got to look beyond that and there were many, many good times under Derek.
“But I believe the parting of the ways was inevitable because I believe Dave Cormack is looking for a different type of manager, a manager that fits his DNA.”
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