The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
‘Lifelong supporter right man for Dons’
ABERDEEN: Dons boss Mcinnes feels Cormack is man to drive club forward
Aberdeen manager Derek Mcinnes feels the Dons have the right man to drive them forward in Dave Cormack.
The Atlanta-based businessman, a lifelong Aberdeen fan, will take over as club chairman from Stewart Milne and Mcinnes needed little convincing of his ambitions for the Dons.
Cormack has been instrumental in attracting funding for the new training ground, which bears his name, and in bringing investment in from America.
Mcinnes revealed he first spoke to Cormack after the 2017 Scottish Cup Final, when his own future was in flux, and is impressed by the ambitious plans he has for the club.
He said: “Dave has brought a lot of investment to try to help push the funding for the training ground over the line. He’s got big ideas for the club. The most important relationship at any club is between the chairman and manager or owner and manager. We’ve got to have similar beliefs and aspirations and a good working relationship.
“I feel I’ve got that with Dave. He has been very supportive in terms of trying to get things done. Dave has ambitions for the club. He wants us to be a bigger animal and that’s music to the ears of any manager, when you’ve got that ambition at boardroom level to drive the club on.
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He (Stewart Milne) has navigated the club through some difficult periods. DEREK MCINNES
“Stewart first asked me to speak to Dave days after the 2017 Scottish Cup Final. From that first phone call with Dave, he was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the club. He was very keen to get involved.
“I could tell Stewart felt he was going to be a main player for us. There was a bit of interest in me from Sunderland at the time and conversations with the chairman and Dave convinced me staying here was the right thing to do.”
Mcinnes has had early conversations with Cormack with regards to his budget, with scope for some business in January. He said: “We’ve been given encouragement by Dave there may be an opportunity to do something.
“Both Dave and Stewart have been really helpful in maximising what we can spend on the playing budget. There’s not a manager in the country that would not want more money but what we’re working towards is being able to spend more by growing the club.”
The Dons boss paid tribute to Milne, who brought him to the club in 2013 and will remain in a directorial role after handing over the reins to Cormack.
He said: “He’s navigated the club through some difficult periods. There has been a lot of spells where he’s maybe not enjoyed being chairman as much. There has been a lot of soul-searching and difficult times but the real high was the cup win. I’d just wish we’d been able to give him more.
“He’s still going to be part of our board and achieving success in the future. I think his time here will be viewed fondly by the majority of fans. It’s not easy being chairman. There’s a lot of demands on you and he’s dealt with everything that’s come his way brilliantly.”