Andrew Considine and Aberdeen: Banchory Beckenbauer's exit is unwanted but Jim Goodwin deserves praise

Andrew Considine is a rare species within not just Scottish football but world football. A one-club man. A familiar, warming, safe presence, an individual who just gets it all the while being a modern-day legend.

Yet, after what has transpired across the past week at Aberdeen, a dramatic sequence of events around a contract extension, that ‘is’ will soon be turning to a 'was'.

Following Jim Goodwin’s strong statement on the player’s situation and future at the club, Pittodrie next season is going to be Considine-less. For a generation of Dons supporters, Scottish football fans in general, it is going to be so surreal seeing the defender not playing for Aberdeen. Even more bamboozling if he pulls on the shirt of another team. It is hard to get your head around it.

That is where we are and there appears no going back.

It was only last month, Goodwin was talking of his “admiration” for the 35-year-old, how he has plans for “Andy… in the future” and it was “just a case of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s" regarding a new deal with his current contract up in the summer.

This week it emerged that Considine was set for an exit following, according to reports, a ‘u-turn'. Such news was a bombshell for the Dons support. One which, to many, didn't sit well.

Not only was this a club legend with nearly 570 games for the club under his belt, someone who knows and understands Aberdeen, he was also, it can certainly be argued, the team's best defender.

Yes, he has missed the majority of the season due to a serious injury, but he has proven in recent seasons to be the most dominant and consistent defender, especially at centre-back after so long playing at left-back. His form was such that he deservedly earned a Scotland call-up,