Aberdeen star to JOIN Scottish Cup final opponents Celtic as replacement for long-serving departing ace
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ABERDEEN goalkeeper Ross Doohan has penned a pre-contract with Celtic.
The 27-year-old is out of contract at Pittodrie this summer and will now land a plum role as number three with the Hoops.
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Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan has signed a pre-contract agreement with Celtic
Credit: Willie Vass
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Dons beat Celts in the Scottish Cup final on Saturday
Credit: Alamy
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Doohan is backup to Dimitar Mitov but will become third choice behind Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo
Credit: Kenny Ramsay
Celtic gaffer Brendan Rodgers needs a Scot to help meet the quota for European squads so is set to sign him as back-up to Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo.
Doohan has been understudy to Dons number one Dimitar Mitov this term but has played 18 times while the Bulgarian struggled with a hamstring injury.
Celtic's Scottish place in the goalkeeping department has been taken by Scott Bain in recent seasons.
But the 33-year-old former Dundee keeper will now depart in search of regular games after playing just eight times in the last three seasons.
Meanwhile, Graeme Shinnie has joked he's in the bad books with wife Jodie for showing more emotion winning the Scottish Cup than he did on his wedding day.
The 33-year-old was in floods of tears when Mitov's penalty save from Celtic star Alistair Johnston fulfilled his lifelong dream of leading Aberdeen to Hampden glory.
Shinnie partied long into the night after getting back to the Granite City from Glasgow.
And revealed his missus cheekily reminded him how calm and collected he was the day they married.
The midfielder said: 'I'm not really an emotional person so I got a telling off from my wife because I didn't get emotional on my wedding day!
'But when Dimi saved that penalty to win the Scottish Cup I couldn't stop greeting!
Aberdeen fans react to historic Scottish Cup win
'It was a really, really special day.
'Ten years ago my youngest wasn't born and my eldest was four months, so she won't remember it.
'I promised them we'd make those memories and it was wonderful.
'My youngest didn't really care all that much but my eldest took it all in and really enjoyed the day.
'She likes the attention she was getting, it was special to share it with my family.'
Shinnie arrived at Pittodrie at 10am still wearing his club kit after a night on the tiles.
And like a true Aberdonian he loved the fact his hand never went into his pocket at the bar.
Shinnie said: 'The night was as good as expected - my voice proves that.
Aberdeen end 35 years of hurt as they lift the Scottish Cup in Celtic penalty thriller
'I didn't have to buy a drink all night - and that keeps an Aberdonian happy!
'The scenes in the city were incredible, these were the moments I told the players we could enjoy.
'The city was bouncing, everything I thought it would be.
'The Scottish Cup hasn't been in Aberdeen for so long, it means so much to the punters and everyone who backs us.
'These are memories which will last a lifetime.
'We've achieved it and we're enjoying it.
'The bus journey back up from Glasgow on Saturday night was carnage, as you would expect.
'There was a lot of singing, champagne everywhere. I felt bad for the driver because he would have had to clean it.
'We came back to Pittodrie and the cup stayed there, I don't think the club would have trusted me with it. I doubt it would have been here today!'
Aberdeen have guaranteed European group stage football in either the Europa League or the Conference.
Man charged over fans' street rammy after Aberdeen-Celtic Scottish Cup final
And once the magnitude of ending the Dons' 35-year wait for the Scottish Cup sinks in, the Pittodrie players have so much to look forward to.
Shinnie said: 'What we've done will sink in, it still feels a bit surreal to say I've won the Scottish Cup with Aberdeen to be honest.
'But when it does start sinking in, we'll think about Europe because that's a massive thing for this club as well.
'European group stage football is where we want to be and we have that to look forward to now.
'The last time, we had great games like Eintracht Frankfurt away and PAOK away, which were brilliant games to be involved in.
'The fans love those trips and I'm sure they'll be ready to travel in big numbers with us again like they always do.'
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