Joe Lewis considers retirement after Aberdeen FC exit but veteran keeper tells club 'I won't be a stranger'

Joe Lewis is considering hanging up his gloves after he terminated his Aberdeen contract.

The club captain ripped up the last year of his deal after the Dons agreed to bring in Ross Doohan to fight it out with Kelle Roos for the No.1 spot. Lewis had spent seven seasons at Pittodrie but is now set to return south and decide his next move – either in football or outwith. He said: “I’ve not made any firm decisions on what I’ll do next. I will assess my options and see what comes up.

“I won’t be a stranger to the north-east, that’s for sure, this has been my second home and I will visit frequently. It’s emotional to think we’ll be leaving the city because the people of Aberdeen have been so good to us. So I have to thank the fans, there has been a lot of ups and downs but the club is in fantastic hands. A big thank you for the last seven years for everyone who stuck with me through thick and thin.”

Lewis lost the gloves two seasons ago when Jim Goodwin brought in Roos. Since then he has had limited game time. The former England squad keeper said: “I have a year left but I spoke to the club because I didn’t want to just drag it out for the sake of having another year.

“I feel it has come to a natural end, I have so many good memories on and off the field. The birth of my second child in Aberdeen hospital, my first one has spent seven out of eight years here.

“I have had a great relationship with the supporters, managers and the owners of the club – people from top to bottom. So I have mixed feelings, it’s emotional – but I feel it has come to a natural end. I’m grateful to the club for being so good when I approached them about letting me go.

“Straight from the start I always felt I had a good relationship with the supporters