CRAIG Hignett is on the verge of signing for Aberdeen as Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson is unwilling to match the Pittodrie club's wage offer to his player.
Hignett, available for free in the post-Bosman era, was at Pittodrie yesterday along with his agent, Struan Marshall, talking over an #8000 a week, three-year deal. That would make him the highest paid player in Aberdeen's history, as Pittodrie manager Alex Miller starts a comprehensive rebuilding policy in which he intends to pay the highest wages in the country outwith the Old Firm.
The move will annoy the Teesside team's supporters, more than 40,000 of whom signed a petition demanding that Hignett's services are retained, but Robson is taking a pragmatic approach. He said: ''We don't want Craig to leave, but every player has his price and it would seem that Aberdeen are willing to pay more than Middlesbrough.''
Miller will hope to have a pre-contract agreement in place before he joins up with the Scotland squad later today to begin preparations for the World Cup in his role as assistant to Craig Brown.
q Rob McKinnon last night quit Holland for Tynecastle.
The former Twente Enschede player was at Parkhead to watch his new team-mates win the Scottish Cup. As he completed the deal, the defender acknowledged how difficult it will be for him to get a game next season.
McKinnon revealed also that he knew Hearts were destined to win, because his mother had predicted it. ''I was delighted on Saturday because there is no doubt that Hearts deserved to win the cup,'' said the player.
''However, it just shows how difficult it is going to be for me next season because there is a huge amount of talent at the club. Saturday's result means we are in the Cup-winners' Cup and that's the first time I have played in that tournament.
''It was destiny, because I joined Motherwell just after they had won the cup, too, and my mum told me the same would happen again with Hearts. Unfortunately, I had to fly back to pack our things in Holland that night, so I couldn't go to the party, but I am sure it was a great night.''
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