Derek McInnes is new manager at Aberdeen

The former St Johnstone and Bristol City manager is set to sign a long-term deal to take charge at Pittodrie and pave the way for current manager Craig Brown to move upstairs to the boardroom. He will be joined in the north east by long-time assistant Tony Docherty.

Aberdeen had been keen on a move for Ross County manager Derek Adams, but were refused permission to talk to him by the Dingwall club, so the Dons turned to 41-year-old McInnes.

Chairman Stewart Milne is a long-time admirer of the one-time Rangers, Toulouse, West Brom and Dundee United midfielder and believes he is the man to restore the glory days to the Granite City.

McInnes has been waiting for a new challenge after being axed by Championship side Bristol City in January and was on the Dundee United shortlist before Jackie McNamara landed the post at one of his former clubs.

Milne and the Pittodrie board swiftly put the wheels in motion when Brown indicated he would be retiring in the summer.

Yesterday, former Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle, whose departure for Burnley paved the way for McInnes’ first managerial post at McDiarmid Park in 2007, said: “I regard Aberdeen as the third biggest club in Scotland and with due respect to any other candidates, if they are appointing Derek McInnes as manager they are getting the best man for the rebuilding job that will be ahead of him. He can build on Craig’s work there and take the club forward.”