Jonny Hayes inks new Aberdeen deal as he opens up on debt he owes to struggling side

Aberdeen winger Jonny Hayes has signed a new 12 month contract as he pledges to help take the Dons back up the table.

The former Celtic man looked set to leave Pittodrie at the end of the campaign, having made 284 appearances for the club across two spells.

Captain Scott Brown has already left Aberdeen and hung up his boots after a brief player-coach role.

But manager Jim Goodwin will be able to count on another of his senior players for at least one more year as Hayes commits until the end of the 2022-23 season.

The Irishman said: "There are many reasons why I have signed a new contract.

“This season has been disappointing so far and it is not where we want to be as a football club so from a personal point of view, I couldn’t leave here when there is still so much to achieve.

“The manager will be looking for a positive reaction from the team over these next three games and working under him will be a new chapter for me in my continual need to learn about the game.

“The club have also been brilliant and have given me a chance to do a bit of coaching within the Youth Academy which I really appreciate.

“I feel that I owe the club more than the club will ever owe me. They gave me a platform to show what I could do when I was signed from Inverness back in 2012. My family love living here. My son is in the pre–Youth Academy and my daughter loves the area. My wife loves it as well. It has always been a family orientated decision to be here.

“Not just the club, the city itself has been great for me. I always feel that I have got on well with the supporters. They have been brilliant with me throughout. I now have a personal relationship with a lot of the fans as well, and other people that I have met at Pittodrie.”

Mana