Aberdeen won’t be the new permanent home for defender Dom Ball according to a report. Ball’s currently a free agent following a spell at Rotherham, which included two loan stints at Pittodrie.
The Scottish Sun have reported he has rejected the chance to rejoin Derek McInnes’ men. It’s a blow for the Dons boss as he had hoped the defensive utility man would link up with him again.
Ball won’t be back in the Granite City. (photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Some Aberdeen fans have reacted to the news. To some of the fans, his rejection is more a concerning one for the club rather than a blow to the playing squad.
PRAISE THE LORD
— Neale (@jimbojim1903) June 11, 2019
Imagine being rejected by Dom Ball though 🤣
— RW (@RobertW51652474) June 11, 2019
Dom Ball’s turned us down then. pic.twitter.com/PQyRieHB5J
— Hutchie (@ScotsHutchie) June 11, 2019
"Dom Ball would've been a good squad player" pic.twitter.com/of6P68MOZx
— Alex (@1903_AX) June 11, 2019
The Dom Ball decision isn’t one any Dons fans will be losing sleep over. Would’ve been a useful squad player to have but was never going to be a signing that defined our window. Good luck to him.
— DiscussDandies (@DiscussDandies) June 11, 2019
So Dom Ball isn’t sure if he wants to sign for us. Good grief https://t.co/MxK5etIBXF
— Sean (@lethal1903) June 11, 2019
Ball’s decision may be a concern
In terms of his ability, the only way to describe Ball is average. Fans have seen much better defenders play for the Dons and there has been much worse too.
He turned in a couple of decent performances but that was about it. Perhaps he would have been a decent player for rotation purposes but we’ll never know.
Ball’s miss will be felt minimally. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
His rejection may be concerning though. He would have accepted this if he didn’t have offers elsewhere, most likely in England. Ball is about League One standard, possibly even as low as League Two quality.
If it is a team around that level, and they’ve offered more than the Dons, that is slightly worrying.
It just shows what Scottish clubs are up against these days. The struggle to attract players when teams across England are throwing better money at SPFL targets is getting worse year on year.
SPFL clubs are up against it. (photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
Ball’s rejection probably won’t upset the Dons too much. He’s a squad player at best and not someone who would have had a major impact during the 2019/20 season.