Kilmarnock assistant manager Paul Sheerin claimed boss Derek McInnes was in a “horrible situation” after being subjected to the anger of a number of visiting fans during a 3-0 defeat at Motherwell.
Supporters sang anti-Hearts songs before moving on to more personal chants about McInnes after he confirmed both clubs had agreed a deal for him to move to Tynecastle.
That switch is expected to be confirmed early next week but McInnes is first due to be in the home dugout when Hearts visit Rugby Park on Sunday.
By the sounds of many travelling fans at Fir Park, that could be an extremely awkward afternoon for the former Aberdeen manager.
Sheerin said: “It’s just a horrible situation the way it fell. The timing of it, he can’t get away from that, but I think he’s dealt with it brilliantly. He’ll continue to do that until things change, I’m sure he will.”
On the chants, Sheerin added: “It’s disappointing, but fans will be fans. It’s one of those things, I think it’s sometimes expected.
“I’m biased, I think he deserves a lot better, but that’s easy for me to sit here and say.
“He’ll be gutted by it, I know he’ll be gutted by it, because he has given his all to the club.
“Unfortunately, football moves on and things happen in the game. You get opportunities and they’re too difficult to turn down sometimes.
“As much as he’ll be disappointed with it, he knows what he’s done for this club. It’s been nothing short of incredible to get them where they are.
“We’re all frustrated with this season. We all wanted to be in the mix again for Europe, but for different reasons that’s not happened. But he’s done brilliant here, he really has.”
When asked if McInnes would still be in the dugout on Sunday, Sheerin said: “He’s our manager, we want him front and centre where he needs to be.”
There was a far more positive potential farewell from the Motherwell fans, who gave Lennon Miller a standing ovation after the 18-year-old was substituted seconds after setting up Luke Armstrong’s second goal of the night in the 86th minute.
The midfielder is expected to move on this summer with clubs from home and abroad interested in a transfer.
Motherwell boss Michael Wimmer said of the applause: “This was only the reason why he had to get subbed, because you don’t change Lennon Miller in this game.
“He deserved the applause, and I was sure that he’d get the applause.”
Armstrong netted either side of Callum Slattery’s goal during a nine-minute flurry of goals as Motherwell dominated the second half following a 29th-minute red card for Killie defender Robbie Deas, who brought down Miller as he ran through on goal.
“We needed to pass quickly, to find the half-spaces, to keep the intensity high, to press high,” Wimmer said.
“We got a lot of opportunities. In my opinion, it was only a matter of time when we scored the goal.”
Leyton Orient manager Richie Wellens hailed his team as outstanding after they survived a penalty shootout to reach the Sky Bet League One play-off final.The Londoners prevailed 4-1 on spot-kicks after an absorbing semi-final with Stockport ended 3-3 on aggregate following a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park on Wednesday.Orient, who will now play Charlton or Wycombe at Wembley, are potentially ...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers criticised Aberdeen midfielder Pape Gueye for a “needless challenge” on Reo Hatate in the Hoops’ 5-1 victory.Johnny Kenny marked his full Celtic debut with his first goal for the club, heading home the fourth early in the second half at Pittodrie.Maik Nawrocki also headed his first goal with Yang Hyun-jun, Luke McCowan and Adam Idah also on target.K...
Barry Ferguson was left feeling emotional hearing Rangers fans signing his name at the end of the 3-1 William Hill Premiership win over Dundee United.The former Gers captain was installed as boss in February until the end of the season and, amid an impending takeover, it seems the club could go elsewhere for a permanent manager with Davide Ancelotti – son of Real Madrid head coach Carlo &nda...
Hibernian manager David Gray thanked the club’s board for sticking by him after his team secured third place in the William Hill Premiership with a 2-2 draw at St Mirren.First-half efforts from Martin Boyle and Mykola Kukharevych had Hibs in the ascendancy before Saints hit back to earn a point thanks to goals from Richard Taylor and Conor McMenamin.The draw, though, combined with Aberdeen&r...
Simo Valakari had no complaints after his dejected St Johnstone players learned their 16-year stay in the William Hill Premiership was over when they returned to the dressing room several minutes after their 2-1 defeat at Hearts.Despite losing at Tynecastle, Saints thought they were going to have one last crack at survival on Sunday as Ross County – the team immediately above them – we...
Dundee boss Tony Docherty left media duties to his assistant Stuart Taylor after “confusion and disbelief” following the controversial 1-1 draw with Ross County at Dens Park.Docherty, who has criticised several VAR calls this season, had been visibly furious after the Staggies were awarded a last-gasp penalty.Dundee were leading 1-0 thanks to a Scott Tiffoney goal and seemed on course ...
Leyton Orient held their nerve in a penalty shootout to reach the League One play-off final after a gripping semi-final battle with Stockport.Jack Diamond and Ryan Rydel missed from 12 yards as Orient prevailed 4-1 on spot-kicks after an absorbing tie had ended 3-3 on aggregate following a breathless 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park.Ollie O’Neill had fired Orient ahead after just three minutes but S...
Airdrieonians took an advantage in the first leg of the Scottish Championship play-off final with a 2-1 victory over Cove at Balmoral Stadium.The visitors relied on a set-piece to put themselves in front with right-back Dylan MacDonald rising highest off a corner to nod in Adam Frizzell’s delivery after 16 minutes.The lead did not last long however with Lewis McGrattan’s own goal after...
Ronan Hale’s controversial stoppage-time penalty kept alive Ross County’s hopes of avoiding the relegation play-offs as they drew 1-1 at fellow strugglers Dundee.The Dark Blues took the lead in the second half through Scott Tiffoney and seemed on course to secure their William Hill Premiership status.But deep in added time Hale salvaged a point for the Staggies from the spot after Ryan...
Johnny Kenny marked his full Celtic debut with his first goal for the club as the much-changed champions won 5-1 at Aberdeen.The Irish striker netted 25 goals while on loan with Shamrock Rovers last year and he headed home Celtic’s fourth goal early in the second half at Pittodrie.Maik Nawrocki also headed his first goal for Celtic with Yang Hyun-jun, Luke McCowan and Adam Idah also on targe...
- 1 Richie Wellens hails Leyton Orient’s ‘outstanding’ victory over Stockport
- 2 Man Utd are losing the feeling of being a massive club – Ruben Amorim
- 3 Eddie Howe tells Newcastle to ‘drive forward’ and seal Champions League spot
- 4 Rangers thump Aberdeen to end five-match winless streak at Ibrox
- 5 Newcastle beat 10-man Chelsea to take step towards Champions League spot
- 6 Albanian Laura Woods goes braless in pink top
- 7 AFC Wimbledon boss Johnnie Jackson wary of Notts County fightback in second leg
- 8 World’s sexiest tennis influencer Rachel Stuhlmann in leggy
- 9 Brian Graham’s 100th goal for Partick Thistle earns dramatic play-off win at Ayr
- 10 Andre Onana's Lamborghini Urus was impounded