BRENDAN Rodgers, the Celtic manager, last night claimed Derek McInnes, his Aberdeen counterpart, would be the “perfect fit” for Sunderland on the eve of the William Hill Scottish Cup final.
McInnes, who has led the Pittodrie club to second place in the Ladbrokes Premiership for the third year running this season as well as into two cup finals, has been installed as one of the bookmakers’ favourites to succeed Davie Moyes at the Stadium of Light.
The 45-year-old, who spent a difficult spell in charge of Bristol City in the Championship down south before he joined Aberdeen four years ago, insisted there is still more that he can achieve in the north-east.
However, Rodgers, who guided Swansea City from the second tier of English football into the top flight, believes he would be an inspired appointment by the Stadium of Light club following their relegation from the Barclays Premier League.
“I think he is perfect for it,” he said. “I saw that during the week and I think he is absolutely perfect for it. I thought to myself when I saw that: I thought: ‘Really, really good fit’.
“It is a big club that now needs someone who can go in there and who can organise. It needs someone who has been at a big club and Derek has been at big clubs. He played at Rangers, he has been down in England so he understands it.
“He has done a great job with Aberdeen, which is a big job. When I saw his name this week, I really thought that he would be perfect for it. He would go in, give them a bit of life, get them organised. He knows the game, he can engage with players, he can motivate players.”
Rodgers continued: “The Championship is a tough league. I got promoted there with Swansea and it is 46 games of graft and work and commitment. I think it would be brilliant for him if that is what he wanted to do and certainly a club of that magnitude – it is a big club, Sunderland – and for me he would be perfect.
“You have to consider it. He is in a really good place. He has built something up over the course of four years and has given Aberdeen great stability. He has brought in a group of players who have done very well. He may look at Sunderland as a possibility to get into the Premier League. They have 50,000 supporters and a great stadium. “
McInnes said: “There is a natural end point for a lot of people in football but I don’t feel it is now. I still feel there is more to achieve.
“I’m protective of my own career. There have been opportunities to move in the past, but I have never been in any real rush to leave Aberdeen.
“If we continue to do our jobs well there may be opportunities in the future, but a lot of things would have to be right for me to consider leaving.
“I made a bad decision leaving St Johnstone for Bristol City although I actually feel like I did a lot of my best work as a manager when I was at Bristol City. Sometimes results don’t always play out and back that up.
“The spotlight and the focus over the next few weeks will be on me, the recruitment team and the board to bring reinforcements and a level of players in. We are recruiting from a position of strength. We can offer players a lot. We have European football and the chance to play in cup finals. There’s also playing at the right end of the table.”
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