Michael O'Neill offers up his Aberdeen FC manager theory as boss spots clues that fuel Pittodrie links

Michael O'Neill has a theory as to why he's being linked with the Aberdeen job.

The Northern Ireland boss has been suggested as a potential candidate to fill the vacancy at Pittodrie after the Reds' Neil Warnock experiment fell flat. Reports suggest that the Dons will appoint their new boss within the next 48 hours, with speculation rife that their three-man shortlist includes one UK-based manager and two from overseas.

O'Neill, whose team are currently in Glasgow ahead of Tuesday night's friendly encounter with Scotland at Hampden, has been mooted as the mystery man based on these shores, and previously admitted he'd "assess" any offer that was put to him by Aberdeen. But he believes that his name has been put in the frame mainly because the former Hibs midfielder still lives in Edinburgh, and was in attendance for Aberdeen's spectacular stoppage time collapse against St Mirren at the start of this month.

"This is something that is probably a result of me living in Scotland and me recently going to the St Mirren game.," he said. "When I left, Aberdeen were leading 1-0, but when I got to the car they'd be beaten 2-1. I had nothing to do with either!

"I've said all along, when you commit to a contract it doesn't mean that you'll see it out. But it means that there's commitment on both sides, which there is from myself and the IFA.

"When I left my initial contract for Stoke City, the IFA had to be compensated for that, which they were and everyone was happy with that arrangement. What I would say is who's to say that won't happen again? But at this minute in time, I have to focus on the job that I'm in. And I have to do a good job.

"I'm 12 months into it and I need to win more games than I won in the first 12 months.