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DEREK McINNES has underlined his commitment to Aberdeen after admitting for the first time he was sounded out for other jobs.

The Dons boss and No.2 Tony Docherty signed new deals this summer that tied them to the club until 2019.

It came after McInnes was linked with a return to old club Rangers and the Ibrox club appointed Mark Warburton as manager just days later.

But that didn’t stop speculation over the Pittodrie gaffer’s future and bookies suspended the betting on McInnes quitting in October as he was installed as the favourite to succeed Gordon Strachan as national team boss.

Scurrilous internet rumours about off-field matters added to the uncertainty as Aberdeen hit a shock slump that saw them go six games without a win.

But things have now calmed down and the Dons have regained their form, winning four of their last five matches to move seven points clear of Hearts in second place.

(Image: Alan Harvey/SNS Group)

And McInnes insisted he is fully committed to the job at Pittodrie after revealing there had been unofficial moves to prise him away.

He said: “There’s been opportunities if we’d courted it and given it encouragement. But that doesn’t always need to come from clubs contacting you.

“You can quickly squash that and move on with the job because I don’t think there is any real benefit of that uncertainty.

“While you may get linked with another job – or losing your own – there’s a lot to be said with being happy at your work. When we signed that contract we were really happy and nothing has changed since then.

“We wanted to sign the deal for loads of reasons but the biggest one was just to knuckle down, crack on with the job here and hopefully get the time to see the job through.

“We want to maximise what we think the squad and the club is capable of and I want to be part of that.”

Watch our top team discuss Celtic and Aberdeen at the top of the Premiership:

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Aberdeen’s resurgence has kept them in touch with Celtic at the top, although the Hoops still lead by four points with a game in hand.

And midfielder Graeme Shinnie reckons the battling weekend win over Hearts proves they won’t be bullied as they maintain their title challenge.

Shinnie needed stitches in a head wound after being caught by a flailing elbow from Hearts striker Osman Sow.

But he wasn’t complaining and is delighted at the gap they’ve now opened up over Hearts.

He said: “We did it by proving there are strong characters in our dressing room. Both teams were determined to win the game and it got scrappy.

“It was an important win as Hearts are looking to finish above us.”