Rangers to get Derek McInnes ban 'reduced' from four matches - Keith Wyness
Rangers manager Derek McInnes could see his four-match touchline ban reduced to just one game if the club's appeal against his punishment is successful.
That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the current suspension is hugely unfair on the Gers boss.
McInnes has been issued with the ban due to labelling the award of Celtic's late penalty against Motherwell during last season's title race as "disgusting."
Wyness is adamant that the SFA have been unfair in their judgement of the issue, and should instead have suspended the majority of the ban.
McInnes is currently facing an extra one-game suspension if he repeats the offence, meaning he will be walking a tightrope for the rest of the season if nothing is changed.
The 55-year-old will be in the dugout for the game against Dundee United on Friday, as he and Rangers await the outcome of their appeal.
SFA making Derek McInnes issue about 'themselves'
Aberdeen's former chief Wyness - who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs - believes that the SFA could have "made their point" by only banning McInnes for the opening match of the Scottish Premiership season.
Instead, he believes that the governing body have made the issue "about themselves," rather than focusing on the game itself.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider's Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained that Rangers' appeal may yet prove successful.
"I'm very much on McInnes' side on this one. I think it was again disproportionate in terms of the ban. I think it'll come down to possibly one game," he said.
"They could've made their point with a one-match suspension, the opening match of the season. Look, that was a very heated situation at the end of last season, and I thought Hearts were very badly treated.
"I've got a lot of sympathy for McInnes. I thought actually he was very measured compared to what he could have said. I think there is a chance of the SFA backing down.
"They're going to start making this all about themselves rather than about the game. So let's just do that and try and get administrators putting their egos back in the desk and getting on with just running the game.
"If you can, you should get a four-game ban, but three of them are suspended depending on other behaviours. That, to me, is a much better way to run things."
Vanja Dragojevic work permit latest
Wyness told Football Insider earlier this week that Rangers' new midfielder Vanja Dragojevic is likely to be cleared to play in time for Friday's clash with Dundee United.
The Serbian starlet was unable to feature in the recent pre-season friendly against West Ham United, as he had yet to receive the necessary work permit.
However, Wyness believes that there should be no "alarm bells" ringing in relation to him being unavailable for Friday's season opener.
Dragojevic cannot feature in a matchday squad until he receives clearance, but Wyness expects that issue to be overcome in time for Friday.