Derek McInnes has lifted the lid on Scott McKenna's transfer request and revealed the defender's "head was like a toy shop" as speculation mounted over his future.
Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest had bids rejected for the Scotland international before he hit the Dons with a bombshell transfer request earlier this month.
QPR, again, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol City were then all linked with late moves for McKenna as the clock ticked down on the English transfer window and Aberdeen 's crucial Europa League qualifier against Rijeka.
The timing of the bids infuriated McInnes who said there was a degree of "anger, frustration and contempt” towards the English sides who had moved for the 22-year-old as he prepared to fly out to Croatia to face Rijeka.
The Dons rejected a £7million bid from Aston Villa for the player last season. Now, with just over a week remaining in the Scottish and European window, it seems certain McKenna will remain at Pittodrie until January at least.
And McInnes has opened up on the situation, admitting McKenna, who has four years left on his deal at Pittodrie, wanted to make the next move in his career.
He said: “Scott was obviously keen to make that next step and look at a move.
“However, he understands and respects the club’s stance.
“It is important you respond to disappointment. I am not surprised that he dealt with everything.
“His performances have been as good as they normally are. I am not surprised by that.
“Scott deserves a lot of credit for dealing with what he has had to deal with.
“He has dealt with it and got on with what is important, which is the job in hand, and done very well for me.”
The Aberdeen boss defended his player in the face of criticism from some Dons fans.
He went on: “It is far too easy to make judgement, comment and criticise anything these days.
“There is a human there. There is a boy who has a lot to take on.
“Until you are maybe in that position people maybe cannot comprehend that there is a lot going on.
“For a few days his head was like a toy shop with all sorts of things going on.
“However, Scott has dealt with everything that has come his way admirably, for me, for the majority of it.”
