Jim Goodwin defends decision to tell Aberdeen players they are getting released amid 'five or six' new identifications

Jim Goodwin has defended his decision to tell players they were not being given new contracts amid doubts about Aberdeen’s own top-flight future.

The Pittodrie manager stressed that it is better to be honest with players and give them time to speak to their agents and fix up another deal elsewhere.

He revealed the club are already well down the line of replacing the out-going players.

“Obviously the players who are out of contract and who are leaving, we will look to try and replace all of those,” said Goodwin. “I have had conversations with the recruitment team. We have identified five or six really good players. Hopefully we can get all of those ones done and add some good, fresh faces to the squad.”

In recent times, the normal practice at football clubs has been to reach the end of the campaign before making any big decisions on players staying or otherwise.

Perhaps the most memorable recent case of a manager letting players know earlier than this came when Terry Butcher took over at Hibs during the 2013/14 season. The Easter Road side endured a late season collapse and ended up being relegated after losing a play-off to Hamilton Accies.

Aberdeen still have work to do to avoid finishing in 11th place, the position currently occupied by St Johnstone. The Perth side are only five points behind Aberdeen, who have won just once in the league this year and host bottom club Dundee tomorrow.

But Goodwin has no regrets about having already informed players they are not in his plans. Skipper Scott Brown and striker Jay Emmanuel-Thomas have left Pittodrie and it has been confirmed – rather messily it must be said – that long-serving defender Andrew Considine will depart at the end of the season. He has been on the bench in