McInnes leaves the Saints

Derek McInnes has been confirmed as Manager of Championship side Bristol City.

Saint Johnstone manager Derek McInnes has been confirmed as the new manager of struggling Championship sideBristolCity, following his discussions with them on Monday.

McInnes took over atMcDiarmidParkfrom Owen Coyle who also departed to the Championship to take over at Bolton Wanderers back in 2007.

He took Saints to promotion in his first full season, 2008/09 and has kept them in the SPL since and currently has them sitting in fifth just a point behind Celtic who are in third.

His side is often described as playing in the “right way”, although I think they are don’t play it the same way as Motherwell,Kilmarnockand St. Mirren. I think there style is a bit more functional, with a compact defensive eight and using the pace of Sandaza and Sheridan up front as a major out ball.

This is not a criticism as I believe this will work well for him in the Championship where teams rely on such tactics on a regular basis!

McInnes joins the ever growing number of Scots in charge of sides in both the top divisions inEngland, but I am not sure what that tells us about their view of things up here…..

Who is next for Saints then, they are hailed as a club who give young managers a chance. This has seen Derek Adams, Paul Sheerin and David Weir linked with the job already.

At the same time there are three “safe pair of hands” out there, with Jimmy Calderwood, Jim Jeffries and Gus McPherson always looming large when any vacancy comes up.

Geoff Brown has a real challenge ahead of him when it comes to this choice.