Business as usual for McGhee

10 November 2010 12:24
Mark McGhee's position as Aberdeen remains shrouded in uncertainty following lengthy talks at Pittodrie over the club's poor form.[LNB] McGhee took training this morning as scheduled but it is understood members of the Aberdeen board were locked in discussions for most of the day.[LNB]The club remained silent over McGhee's future tonight but some form of clarification is expected in the next 24 hours.[LNB]McGhee admitted he feared for his job following Tuesday night's 2-1 home defeat against Inverness, which followed a 9-0 thrashing by Celtic on Saturday.[LNB]However, the former Motherwell and Wolves manager was in otherwise defiant mood as he insisted he could lead the Dons out of their poor run of form.[LNB]Aberdeen have collected just four SPL points from a possible 30 and Saturday's loss at Parkhead was the heaviest in the club's history.[LNB]Reports had claimed before the Inverness game that defeat would spell the end of McGhee's difficult 17-month reign but the manager denied any knowledge of such an ultimatum.[LNB]Despite the reverse, the former Dons striker claimed his players' performance against Inverness proved he had not lost the dressing room.[LNB]McGhee, whose team finished ninth in the SPL last term and were knocked out of the domestic cups by Dundee and Raith, argued there were mitigating factors surrounding their poor start to the season, notably injuries to the likes of Paul Hartley and Fraser Fyvie.[LNB]McGhee told RedTV last night: "We're on a shocking run in terms of winning games and points but I think anyone who is intelligent enough or considerate enough to look at the facts will see the difficulties we have had and will factor them in.[LNB]"I still maintain my squad when fit will compete with anyone outside the Old Firm.[LNB]"We're bringing in young kids, we have players injured and players coming back from injury. We've got a lot more to come."[LNB]McGhee also listed reasons for the extraordinary defeat at Celtic Park such as Hartley's early red card, inexperience and a "carnival" atmosphere with former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson in the stands.[LNB]The former Dons striker, who won the European Cup Winners' Cup with the club in 1983, argued the performance against Inverness proved he had not lost the faith of the players while he remarked on a lack of dissension among the fans.[LNB]"I didn't feel pressure, I was anxious that the players would prove me right in terms of what happened on Saturday," McGhee said. "They did prove me right."[LNB]However, he added: "I'm a realist, I know how it works. We'll see what happens and in no doubt in a short time I'll know if I'm going to be the manager at Ibrox or not.[LNB]"I am the manager now and I'm disappointed with the result but satisfied with my team's effort."[LNB]But the delay over a statement suggests the board are at best split over McGhee's future or compensation is an obstacle to removing the manager from his post.[LNB]McGhee has admitted there is no money to strengthen his squad in January so there are unlikely to be funds to pay off his contract.[LNB]McGhee, whose team conceded their fourth penalty in two games against Inverness but have scored seven this season, added: "We need a couple of breaks, we need to get people fit and to stay fit.[LNB]"We need a wee result, we need a penalty at the right time and not against us.[LNB]"I can see a path through this minefield and I remain prepared to do it if I'm allowed to."

Source: Team_Talk