Jonny Hayes has revealed the negotiations over his new Aberdeen extension took just two minutes.
The experienced winger, who hopes to make it seven wins on the bounce when Rangers come to town tomorrow, is now in his second spell at the club and was desperate to remain beyond the summer and get the club back into Europe. Hayes is now one of the senior players at 35 but manager Barry Robson, after handing out the new deal, claimed he could see him playing beyond 38.
The Irishman admitted: “I suppose I’ll have to trust him. He’s the manager, isn’t he? I don’t take things year by year, I take them week by week. It was a no-brainer. I’m enjoying my football, I feel fit and I’m contributing to the team. I enjoy being here. It was one of these where, as soon as they offered it to me, it was done and dusted in just two minutes.”
Aberdeen have charged clear in third thanks to a revival under Robson, who inherited a team in the bottom six and seriously out of form. The Dons now look favourites to finish best of the rest and achieve their goal of getting back into Europe.
Former Celtic star Hayes said: “It’s enjoyable playing European football but I have always wanted it to last a little bit longer. It’s something that entices players up, it’s something that gets the fans excited about looking towards next season.
“It is a big part at Aberdeen Football Club having that European football and it’s something that we strive for. We weren’t successful last year and that’s something we are trying to rectify.”
Aberdeen had been in Europe for the previous eight seasons before this campaign but if they were to finish third the prize could be European football until Christmas, if Celtic or Rangers were to lift the Scottish Cup.
Hayes, though, won’t look too far ahead, saying: “To be honest the rules change that much about the coefficient and who goes where, I haven’t got a clue. I’ll wait until basically the season is over and we get told what date we are brought back for pre-season.
“I haven’t got a clue what brings what but the aim for us is to finish as high up the table as possible and whatever that brings in terms of European football, we’ll gladly take it.”
Next up for the Dons is a clash with Gers and it is always a fixture that is hugely anticipated, with the sold-out signs already up outside Pittodrie. Hayes admires the job Michael Beale has done at Ibrox but is more focused on what the team in red can do.
The Irishman said: “They’re a good team. They’re probably a little bit different from the last time we played them. They play a bit more expansive football. They are a good football team, there is no getting away from it. It’s a fixture I enjoy so I can’t worry too much about Rangers, I am more focused on what Aberdeen bring to the game.”
Aberdeen, even when struggling after the World Cup break, still gave Beale’s side a run for their money. They should have won at Pittodrie last time out but ended up losing 3-2 after conceding twice in stoppage time. The Dons then went to Hampden and took Rangers to extra time in the League Cup semi-finals.
Hayes added: “Yeah but those games are a few months ago now. It’s more about us playing a different style of football now.
“It’s more about taking confidence from the brilliant run we have been on recently without looking too far back towards December, that’s three or four months ago now. The boys will keep believing in what we are doing and how well we have been playing, some games we haven’t played too well but we have still managed to grind out results.
“This part of the season is about winning games and putting points on the board, whatever way we need to do that, we’ll try on Sunday.”
Hayes is not only a big influence on the pitch but is an AFC Community Trust ambassador as a coach with the youth academy.
Robson, who has keeper Jay Gorter back, has cut back on those coaching commitments because he wants the veteran’s energies reserved for first-team action. That meant Hayes had his feet up last night
He said: “I’m not allowed to coach on Friday nights anymore and have to stay away from some of the different age groups. To be fair, the gaffer’s fair with me. He understands the importance of looking after yourself when you are a little bit older, he has been there himself as a player. Any bit of advice in terms of looking after yourself at that age I will take from him.
“The manager still lets me commit to as much as possible so long as it doesn’t interfere with rests or training.”
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