Sunderland are in talks with Derek McInnes, and Alex McLeish has backed the Aberdeen boss to take the job.
Alex McLeish
Aberdeen hero Alex McLeish has suggested to the Evening Times that Derek McInnes could be about to receive a huge opportunity if he is offered the Sunderland job this summer.
BBC Sport reports that the Dons boss is in talks with the Black Cats about potentially succeeding David Moyes at the Stadium of Light after his excellent spell at Pittodrie.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes
But while McLeish has expressed that he would be disappointed for his old side if they did lose McInnes to Sunderland, he insisted that a move to the Championship side would be a step in the right direction for the 45-year-old’s career.
“I don’t want the Aberdeen fans to lose their highly-rated manager but when you look at Derek’s career it would be a step up,” he told the Evening Times.
“Sunderland are a big club and the Championship is one of the best supported leagues in the world.
“It is a huge opportunity for Derek, if indeed Sunderland were to appoint him.”
In fairness to McInnes, he has done an excellent job with the Dons, guiding them to second in the Scottish Premiership yet again this past season while they also reached both domestic cup finals where Celtic denied them silverware on both occasions.
Therefore, he would surely be forgiven for potentially seeking a new challenge. But they may perhaps not come harder than succeeding Moyes at Sunderland.
The Black Cats were relegated from the Premier League this past season so will undoubtedly need their next manager to provide the squad with a significant lift as Aston Villa have shown this year that being a big club can count for little in the Championship.
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