Aberdeen FC boss wants to keep all his boys
McGhee’s pledge over squad size
By Charlie Allan with the Dons in England
Published: 27/07/2010
ABERDEEN FC boss Mark McGhee is determined the spate of new arrivals at Pittodrie won’t spark an exodus of players in the other direction.
If all the transfers he was working on today come off, the Aberdeen FC manager will be left with a first team squad of 22, backed up with youngsters such as Ryan Jack, Scott Ross and Clark Robertson, who are with them on their pre-season tour of England.
Having already admitted his squad is likely to contain “18 to 20” players, the pressure would clearly be on McGhee to cut his pack.
He admitted that he is likely to look at loaning out some of his strikers if Aston Villa youngster Jim Collins persuades him to bring his contingent of those up to seven.
But the Aberdeen boss hopes to be able to hold on to the rest.
He said: “I will eventually have to consider the economics of carrying a decent-sized squad.
“We set a limit of 18 to 20 players because it’s all we can afford.
“I will have to do some pruning, but I’m hoping putting one or two of the strikers on loan will be enough.
“I have no plans to move on any of the rest.
“We still have Peter Pawlett, Sone Aluko and Derek Young to come back in after injuries.
“If we get the final group of new signings, they would bring the squad back up to full strength.
“Even then, the squad would still be a bit tight as far as cover for some positions goes, so I would prefer to keep what I have.”
