Peter Pawlett has signed a four-and-a-half-year contract extension with Aberdeen. Now manager Mark McGhee hopes others will follow.
The Hull-born 18-year-old has become the first of McGhee’s young talent to extend their stay with the Dons, despite signing a long-term contract only in February.
The Scotland under-19 international midfielder has become a crucial part of the manager’s plans alongside the likes of Chris Maguire and Fraser Fyvie and McGhee is hoping for similar signing success. He said: “It’s great news because it’s encouragement for the others to sign as well now they’ve seen Peter commit his future to Aberdeen.
“There is a group of young players we can build a good team around if they all stay, so we are thrilled to get the first one done.
“Jamie Murphy is a good young player at Motherwell but Pawlett is a couple of years younger than him, so you wonder how good he will eventually be.
“He has the makings of being a really top-class player given his energy, movement and touch.
“He has the ability to get past opponents with his pace as well, so he has a lot going for him.”
Pawlett can expect a significant pay rise if he continues to be a first-team regular.
McGhee added: “It shows the ambition of the club to look after him as you deserve to get paid for what you do for the team.
“It doesn’t matter if you are 18 or 28 if you are doing the same job regularly. You have to make allowances for them to stay for the long haul, so if they play they get a bit more to make sure their progress is recognised.”
Pawlett will keep his place in the Aberdeen team for Saturday’s visit of champions Rangers, but McGhee will have to find a replacement for Gary McDonald.
McDonald was sent off by referee Crawford Allan for a second booking after raising his shirt over his head after his equaliser in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Motherwell.
While conceding that the referee had been right to dismiss his man, McGhee still believes the double punishment of dismissal and suspension is harsh.
He said: “The rule is unnecessary as there are rules such as unsporting behaviour where referees could book someone if they thought it was out of order.
“I think if the referee had it at his discretion whether or not to book Gary then he wouldn’t have done it.
“Secondly, it’s also harsh to be banned for another game for that sort of thing.
“The referee should be able to decide when it might be dangerous in terms of inciting the crowd.
“And the referee should be able to recommend whether a player does miss another game or not.
“We were shown the rulebook and yes it is clearly in there.
“But, like the rest of us, Gary thought it was only if you took off the jersey off that you were cautioned.
“Now we know we will make sure that it doesn’t happen in future and I’m sure the publicity means no one else will make the mistake.”