Aberdeen FC manager Derek McInnes has bagged three unwelcome points after being taken to court over an unpaid speeding fine.
The Dons boss was caught driving at 80 miles per hour on the Dundee to Aberdeen A90 dual carriageway in May, heading north through Angus towards the Granite City just before 7am.
McInnes was offered the chance to take up a conditional offer of a fixed £100 fine, but Forfar Justice of the Peace Court heard the ex-St Johnstone and Bristol City boss had been too busy to pay the penalty.
The 48-year-old former Scottish internationalist was not present when his case called at Forfar on Friday, but pled guilty by letter to the May 7 offence on the road where average speed cameras came into operation in November 2017.
Depute fiscal Laura McGillvery said the offence, recorded at 6.58am on the northbound carriageway, led to inquiries being carried out to identify the driver of the vehicle.
“On May 17 a response was received naming the accused as the driver of the vehicle, but that came from Pittodrie stadium in Aberdeen,” she said.
“A further letter was sent to the accused, and a final reminder sent on June 17.
“On July 1, a police inquiry was instigated and on July 8 a response was received from the accused identifying himself as the driver,” added Ms McGillvery.
The court heard McInnes was then given the conditional offer of a fixed penalty on July 26 but that was not taken up.
The fiscal added: “Mr McInnes states in his letter that he would have accepted the conditional offer of the fixed penalty but due to the nature of his work he is away from home for long periods.
“He found it difficult to keep on top of his post and that is why the conditional offer wasn’t returned.”
The court noted McInnes, whose address was given as c/o Pittodrie Stadium, had a clean driving licence at the time of the offence.
JP Andy Gourlay fined McInnes £200, with 28 days to pay, and imposed three penalty points on his licence.
