Thursday 7 December 2017 12:57, UK
Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas feels the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes' future has "left him isolated".
McInnes is favourite to be named the new Rangers boss, replacing Pedro Caixinha who was sacked in October, and he missed Aberdeen's training on Wednesday, although the Dons have refused Rangers permission to speak to the 46-year-old.
McInnes will also be absent from Aberdeen's news conference ahead of their trip to face Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Friday night and former Dons player Nicholas feels the situation must be resolved as soon as possible.
"It was a matter of time before McInnes left Aberdeen. He almost left to go to Sunderland last summer," Nicholas told Premier League Daily.
"He stayed on at Aberdeen because he didn't think that was the right timing for him.
"It's been a bit of a mess for both clubs. Rangers have waited so long to finally move into a position where they are going to pay compensation for him and his No 2. That's fine but why does it take so long?
"Then Aberdeen just leave it dangling. If you are headhunted and Rangers want you, Rangers should have made a move.
"Have they been building up funds where they can suddenly make the payments? It's left him isolated.
"I always felt Derek McInnes was coming to his sell-by date at Aberdeen. I thought he may hang on until the summer and then decide 'I can't compete with Celtic, I can't take this team any further'.
"Rangers are a bigger club, [although] they are not in a good, healthy financial position at the moment."
If McInnes does complete a move to Ibrox, Nicholas believes he will make the team better, but that substantial funds must be made available to him in the transfer market if they are to catch up with Glasgow rivals Celtic.
"It will make Aberdeen weaker and Rangers stronger," added Nicholas.
"Other than that, he needs funds to address a team that is pretty average."
Watch Hibernian v Rangers on December 13. Coverage begins on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event from 7:30pm.
