Higher SPL finish won’t affect Aberdeen budget

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is seeking the right balance in team selection between the need to assess his squad and secure more prize-money.

Aberdeen sit eighth in the Premier League, level on points with Kilmarnock but behind on goal difference, following their goalless draw with Hibernian in the former St Johnstone manager’s first game in charge.

Finishing at the top of the bottom six is unlikely to boost McInnes’ budget for next term, but he knows finances are tight in Scottish football in general. However, he also needs more information to make decisions on who to keep at Pittodrie this summer. McInnes, who takes charge of his first game at Pittodrie when Kilmarnock visit tomorrow, said: “We want seventh place. I think I know my budget for next season – that was regardless of whether we finished top six or bottom six. But we obviously feel that responsibility to finish as high as possible. Every penny is important, as it is at other clubs.

“You debate in your mind the importance of winning the next game and the importance of having a look at players who are out of contract and blooding youngsters. Hopefully over the course of the next four games we can get the balance of that right. Results are important but I think the most important part of it, when decisions need to be made, that we have a balanced view of that and be more confident making these decisions.”

One player who is sure to be in the manager’s plans is Niall McGinn, whose 20-goal haul in his first season with Aberdeen secured him a place on the PFA Scotland player of the year awards shortlist.

McInnes said: “Nial McGinn is a player I have admired for a while. I tried to sign him in the past. Nobody expected him to contribute the way he has in terms of his goal tally this season. That alone got him his nomination – everybody has recognised what he has done.”