Paterson was reported to have been offered Kerr for the season, but decided against it because there was no chance of the Dons being able to sign him permanently.
However the Dons boss now claims that comments he made about Kerr to a journalist have been misconstrued.
He told Aberdeen’s official website: “Brian Kerr is a very good player and someone I would have been very interested in talking to. However, the truth of the matter is that about three weeks ago, I received word that he may be available for loan.
“I informed our chief scout who subsequently made a tentative enquiry with his counterpart at St. James', only to be told that our information was incorrect and that Brian was not available. As far as I was concerned, that was the end of the matter.
“After the Bradford tournament last weekend, a journalist approached me and said he'd heard we were linked with Brian.
“I explained what had happened but unfortunately the story that then appeared made out that we had turned the player down. That was simply not the case. Brian is a player who would have interested us but wasn't available so we turned our attentions elsewhere.
“This is something that happens every day but as there has been so much nonsense printed I feel it is only fair to our fans to clarify matters.”