Dons boss McInnes hits out after speculation
Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes admits he was left baffled by the online rumours which claimed he was ready to quit Pittodrie.
The Dons were forced into making a statement on Wednesday night to shoot down baseless gossip sweeping across social media.
The bizarre episode even saw bookmakers Ladbrokes - the Scottish Premiership's title sponsor - release a story through their PR firm announcing they had suspended betting on McInnes leaving the Reds after receiving a flurry of wagers.
It then took a fresh twist when Ladbrokes immediately made McInnes favourite to replace Scotland boss Gordon Strachan.
But the 44-year-old is adamant that he is going nowhere - and blasted the conduct of the Scottish Professional Football League's main backer.
He told a press conference : I was a bit baffled by the whole thing to be honest. You start to get phone calls from Press guys and you soon realise something is gathering a bit of momentum.
But I really was baffled by it. When you look back on it in the cold light of day, then people have got to have a responsibility to act better.
What can you do to stop it? Social media is what it is. I'm from a generation that is not involved in it.
But I think for the main sponsors to be involved in instigating a lot of it is disappointing. They have a responsibility to work with clubs as the main sponsor and not work against clubs and managers.
This is me talking about this today but it could be another manager next week. There have been other managers who have been put under pressure unnecessarily. The job is difficult enough.It is something which isn't helpful.''
McInnes has been a revelation since being appointed Aberdeen boss two years ago.
He guided the club to their first trophy win in 19 years with their League Cup success in 2014 and this term led the team to the top of the Premiership after 10 games. But he insists Wednesday's events will not distract him from his task.
He said: I'm working for a chairman who is rock solid, we've made good progression and are sitting at the top of the league. We've got players on long-term contracts, I've got the staff in that I wanted.
Yes there are short-term needs for results like every manager has to deal with and nobody is 100 per cent watertight.
But we have long-term aims and this is my club. I've committed to a four-year deal and that's why I'm baffled.
Our focus has always been on (Friday's opponents) Ross County but when you have to deal with the sideshow that was yesterday it isn't helpful.''
Ironically, just 24 hours after Ladbrokes had tipped him to leave, Ladbrokes announced McInnes was their manager of the month for September.
But he knows he is well out of the running for October's award after three straight defeats - including the 5-1 shocker at home against St Johnstone a fortnight ago.
Speaking ahead of Friday night's trip to Dingwall, he said: It doesn't feel as good as the other times I've won this because of the heavy defeat last week.
But any time you get an individual award it's just a reflection of the staff and the players.
Although it was a decent month for us it didn't finish off the way we wanted it to.
Friday isn't a must-win match but it's one we want to win. We've done a lot of things right but we understand the last couple of league performances haven't been good enough.
No-one is going to give us results though. We've always had to earn them and we'll do that up at County.''