McGhee wants to fine players for seeing red

Mark McGhee wants to fine Aberdeen players a month's wages as a deterrent for being sent off.

Davide Grassi was the seventh Dons star sent off this season when he saw red for kneeing Dundee United's Andy Webster in the 1-0 win at Tannadice on Saturday.

Now McGhee, who ordered players to do community service for red cards last month, has consulted Pittodrie chief Willie Miller over his plans. He said: "I have taken the decision to introduce fiscal punishment.

"The rules say we can fine players up to four weeks' wages, so what we've said is as of now any sending off that's an unnecessary red card will start off with a fine of one week's wages.

"If they're sent off for similar offences in the future they will be fined two weeks' wages and so on."

McGhee CAN fine players up to four weeks' wages after a recent change in SPFA laws.

Players' union chief Fraser Wishart warned he needs the players' okay for his plan.

He said: "You can't just decide to change a code of conduct without consulting the players and getting them to agree to it.

"It's been less than four weeks since Mark introduced the community service idea.

"The players were all comfortable with that and those same players have to be in favour of this new scheme.

"You can't just keep changing your code of conduct on a monthly basis."

McGhee claims his players are just too immature to realise when they're close to a red card.

He sighed: "I feel very strongly about this. I felt I could defend the first few red cards we got this season.

"The last three made it difficult to do that so I need to do something about that.

"If these guys aren't mature enough to do it off their own backs then I will need to introduce sanctions that will do it for them."