Source: FOOTYMAD
Don't Do The Crime, If You Can't Do The Time
Derek McInnes was no Saint last season and has been kicking his heels in the Directors box. Derek McInnes can't wait to get down to ground level and back in the dug-out. He was banned to the stand for two games following an altercation with a linesman in the final minute of last season in the game against Hamilton. This was his first brush with the SFA as a manager and did not enjoy sitting frustrated in the director's box at Tynecastle having to use a walkie-talkie to keep in touch with the Saints' technical area as his side fought out a 1-1 draw with Hearts. The punishment seems to have worked as McInnies is determined not to incur the wrath of officials again. He said: "I will be up in the directors' box again for the Aberdeen game, sitting alongside my chairman. At Hearts I had a walkie-talkie which allowed me to keep in touch with my assistant Tony Docherty and get my instructions out there quickly. My ban had no effect on the team, only an effect on me. I didn't like it, it took me out of my comfort zone. I know some managers like to sit in the stand, for the first half especially and I can see why because of the different perspective you get, but I would much rather be in the dugout and be hands-on. Hopefully that will be the last time I get banned." McInnes boosted the number sin his Perth squad when he snapped up former Hearts and Aberdeen full-back Alan Maybury, who was with Colchester United last term. He has signed for the rest of the season and will bolster a defence which will be without the suspended Steven Anderson and likely to be missing injured duo Danny Grainger and Dave Mackay. The St Johnstone manager said: "I'm delighted to have signed Alan, it is a major boost and he is a really good player. In light of the injuries we have that signing eases the pressure. He will be here for the rest of the season and as well as ability, he has experience and versatility which is vital to us. We have been aware of him for a while and he is still of an age where he can do a job." McInnes knows his side face a tough task against Aberdeen who went top of the table with a 4-0 win over Hamilton at Pittodrie last week. The Perth boss insists that comprehensive victory will make the Dons "even more dangerous" when they come to McDiarmid Park. McInnes said: "Regardless of the fact that Paul Hartley scored three penalties, it was a great result for Aberdeen last week and a fantastic start to the season for them. Hamilton never make it easy for anyone. So Aberdeen will be buoyed and even more dangerous and will come here very confident. They will be tough opponents but we hope to be tough opponents too." Meanwhile, St Johnstone's accounts show that the club's turnover has risen to £4million but a loss of £60,000 has been reported. In his annual report to shareholders Geoff Brown sounded a note of warning but the Saints chairman remains upbeat the club's financial position. Brown said: "No loss is ever acceptable. If you keep doing that then the business will go bust. But a lot of things contributed to these results, particularly the postponement of games against Aberdeen, Hibs and Rangers." Brown pointed out that today's game against Aberdeen will likely see 2,500 - 3,000 away supporters in the stadium. When the Dons last visited Perth there were under 500 travelling fans - an income difference of somewhere around £40,000. A substantial amount was also spent on the floodlighting system to prepare it for the requirements of the SPL and ongoing investment is required in the fabric of a stadium which is now 21 years old. The chairman continued: "The club remains in a very positive financial position. That is very, very important. We are one of the few who don't have to put business plans to the banks. "We are masters of our own destiny but we can't afford to let our guard drop or we could land in the same predicament as others." Editor Ger Harley (ger@scottishfitba.net)Admin Team (admin@scottishfitba.net)This is Scottish-Fitba.Net
