Thursday 7 December 2017 14:03, UK
Derek McInnes' future will be resolved by the close of play on Thursday, according to Aberdeen U20 manager Paul Sheerin.
Sky Sports News understands McInnes met Dons chairman Stewart Milne on Wednesday to discuss his future amid growing speculation he is set to become the next Rangers manager.
Aberdeen U20 boss Sheerin presided over Thursday's news conference ahead of Friday's visit to Dens Park for the Scottish Premiership clash with Dundee.
Asked about the situation surrounding McInnes' future, Sheerin said: "Just basically that there will be a resolution at some stage today.
"Either way - whether the manager will be here or won't - hopefully by the close of play today there will be a decision on that. Up until such time it is just business as usual for us in terms trying to prepare our best for a game tomorrow.
"The nature of the beast is that we have to prepare the best we can, there is no getting away from that. There is a game to play. We need to make sure the players are right, and hopefully they are.
"They seem relatively relaxed about the situation. The nature of football and the way it works, unfortunately, it is not an ideal situation but it is a situation that I am sure the players will just get on with."
Asked if he is likely to be in charge for the trip to Dundee should McInnes leave the club, Sheerin said: "Again I'm not sure. Myself and Barry (Robson, Aberdeen first-team coach) have taken training the last couple of days, so I would be surprised if anyone was to come in tonight or tomorrow to take the game.
"The likelihood is that it will be myself and Barry who will take charge of team matters until such time where it is different."
Sheerin has not given up hope that McInnes - who missed training on Wednesday - will stay with the club, having signed a new three-year contract in June after rejecting an offer from Sunderland.
"I've been in touch with (Derek)," he said. "He's asked how training has been, asked how players are. So we have been in touch but it was purely just with regards to training and obviously the game.
"There was nothing spoken about his situation. That's none of my business in all honesty.
"Derek will make his decision in time and we adhere to whatever that decision is.
"We have formed a decent working relationship as a staff so we're all hopeful that he and Tony stay at the club. But whether that happens is outside our control and there is nothing we can do about it."
Graeme Murty has been in temporary charge at Rangers since Pedro Caixinha's departure from Ibrox in October.
Aberdeen are third in the Scottish Premiership, level on points with Rangers and seven behind leaders Celtic.
