News: there is no McInnes news

After a weekend when we all got odd-jobs around the house done, real football is back tomorrow as the champions head to Dingwall to face Owen Coyle’s auntie’s nephew’s side attempt to take a point or more.

Owen is not Brendan Rodgers, but he is no mug, and will have watched how Steve Clarke, Tommy Wright and Neil Lennon did to hold Celtic this season. They will fight for everything.

Biggest news to come out of the international break is that there is absolutely no news about Derek McInnes. The Aberdeen manager is still the Aberdeen manager, despite his move down the table being suggested by every rent-a-quote in the game.

I remember when Old Rangers were unable to entice a manager from either Aberdeen or Dundee United (Jock Stein counselled both targets against the role). A lot has been liquidated since then, but Newco find themselves trying to achieve what Oldco couldn’t in 1983: recruit a manager from another Scottish club.

Getting McInnes is a fairly straightforward business. He has an agreed compensation figure in his contract; agree to meet that sum and do the deal with the manager. We both know that Newco don’t have any discretionary budget, waiting to be spent on managerial compensation, but if you were convinced you had the right man, you would find the cash somewhere.

No one really knows if McInnes would take the job, although it’s clear matters have not reached that stage yet, despite the passing of three weeks since he was first targeted. We were all convinced he was heading to Sunderland earlier this year, until he completed his due diligence on the club and decided to stay where he was. The length of time it is taking to open talks surely makes a move to Ibrox less enticing.

Not that it really matters, we’ll spank both teams, whoever is in charge.

FRIDAY 10.44pm – NEW CQN PODCAST RELEASED FEATURING KEVIN MILES IN SESSION…

A Celtic State of Mind presents its 24th instalment of insightful discussion into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.

In the first ‘A Celtic State of Mind: In Session’ show, Paul John Dykes and Kevin Graham are joined by former Yashin frontman, Kevin Miles.

Kevin is supporting the Celtic Foundation’s Christmas Campaign by releasing a charity single, ‘Celtic, My Heart and My Soul’, and he joined The CQN Podcast at The Tolbooth Studio in Stirling to play an exclusive acoustic rendition of his magnificent ballad.

As well as playing a further three tracks, Kevin also speaks of his passion for Celtic Football Club, and explains why he wanted to support the Foundation this year.

The CQN Podcast has gone from strength-to-strength over the last few months, and there are many more guests lined up in the months ahead from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature and politics.

Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes, @anorthernprose and @CQNMagazine and subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or through your podcast player.

NEW FROM CQN BOOKS! JIM CRAIG – RIGHT BACK TO 67, THE LISBON LION DIARY, ORDER A SIGNED COPY NOW!