McGhee: I'm taking a big risk

MARK McGHEE has admitted he is risking his reputation as an Aberdeen legend by taking on the top job at Pittodrie.

The new Dons boss is idolised by the Red Army after playing in their triumphant Cup Winners' Cup team of 1983.

But those same fans will deem him a failure unless he leads his side to at least third spot in the SPL and takes silverware back to the north-east.

Director of football Willie Miller has piled more pressure on his former team-mate by insisting the Dons must also qualify for the group stages of the Europa League.

McGhee said: "I think people will always remember what we did here as players, but you can taint your status.

"I suppose Alan Shearer would be an example of that where he put his neck on the line and Newcastle were relegated. I imagine that damaged his reputation in some ways with the fans, but that is the risk.

"But do you want a job where there is no risk or pressure or do you want a job where the upside is high?

"If we get third spot or win a cup or reach the group stages in Europe this place will be rocking and rolling. For me that risk is a price worth paying.

"What job doesn't have pressure? The alternative is fighting relegation and that's much more difficult to handle than the pressure of trying to achieve at the top end.

"To win cups you have to beat the Old Firm and if you get to a final you have a chance.

"Aberdeen are a club the fans would expect to be in a cup final occasionally."

McGhee knew it was time to quit Motherwell when the break-up of his team killed off his ambitious plans.

He suffered first hand at Millwall after the collapse of the ITV Digital deal and fears if Setanta fold, it will prove to be a fatal blow to certain SPL clubs.

He added: "At Christmas, Motherwell were one point short of Hearts and behind Celtic and Rangers, so we were the fourth best team, I think.

"When everyone was fit and playing well I felt we were the third best team.

"But out of that team they are going to lose Maros Klimpl, Stephen Hughes and Graeme Smith and possibly one other, David Clarkson or Paul Quinn. There's a lot of interest in these players.

"Mark Reynolds is also a terrific player and he won't be at Motherwell forever, so the chances of recreating that performance was being undermined all the time.

"We also lost Chris Porter in January. We missed out on the top six by a point and you'll never convince me that, had Porter stayed until the end of the season, we wouldn't have won one more point. We were being undermined by necessity.

"I had no problem understanding the situation the club was in - it's the price you pay for being a selling club.

"Because of the Setanta situation, I worry for the competition, not so much for Aberdeen. They seem to be protected as their finances are secure. But Motherwell and other clubs, like Falkirk, aren't so well off.

"At Millwall, I built a side that won the First Division and finished fourth in the Championship and got beat in the play-offs for the Premiership by Birmingham.

"That team included Tim Cahill, Lucas Neil, Steven Reid, Tony Warner, players who all went on to play in the Premiership.

"But because of what happened with ITV Digital those players had to be sold.

"I'd been at Motherwell two years, but because we didn't have money to bring in new faces and rotate the squad, I was thinking it was time to go. Sometimes everyone needs a change.

"Aberdeen has a bit more stature, but even our players are vulnerable to the Old Firm and clubs down south.

"Aberdeen can do better. They haven't lost as many key players as Motherwell.

"The players are young and as they get more mature and we bring in new and fresh ideas, hopefully, we can improve them further.

"We also might be able to bring in one or two players and that might improve us."

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