Aberdeen manager Jim Goodwin says players who have been told they can leave Pittodrie are in control of their own destiny.
Goodwin revealed in the wake of last weekend’s 4-1 victory over St Mirren he was keen to trim his squad, and had held discussions with players who he will allow to depart if they can find a new club.
The Dons boss says the ball is in the court of those players, insisting they are equally entitled to stay and provide cover in his squad.
Goodwin said: “I have had discussions with two or three of the squad. They know the situation, that their game time this season might be a little limited and that the club aren’t going to stand in their way if they can find an opportunity out there to play more regularly.
“The ball is in the players’ court in terms of those two or three.
“If they stay then that’s fine. It gives me an extra two or three players to choose from if we get injuries or suspensions. Any manager will tell you they want as big and as strong as squad as they can get.
“But, of course, we have a budget we need to work to as well. I don’t want anybody here who’s not going to be happy to here. That’s the bottom line.”
‘Players can’t bang down my door and say I never told them’
Goodwin believes informing players they do not figure in his plans when they have time to arrange a move will help to avoid issues beyond the August 31 transfer deadline.
He added: “It just gets back to the conversations I had in February when I took the job.
“The players here are under contract and their contracts will be honoured by the club. There’s no getting away from that.
“As a senior player, I’ve been there myself where you want to be playing regularly and you’re not getting the opportunities. It can become very frustrating.
“Before that frustration settles in and the window shuts, I thought it was appropriate to let those players know and give them time. I’m led to believe their representatives are working in the background to try and find them something.
“At least that way, if the window closes and they’re not in my plans, they can’t come and bang my door down and say I never told them. That’s the way I work and I think that’s the best way to do it.”
Dons boss welcomes intense central midfield competition
Goodwin bolstered his central midfield options with the addition of Leighton Clarkson on loan from Liverpool last weekend.
The 20-year-old made an instant impact, netting a stunning goal in the victory over the Buddies.
With Ylber Ramadani, Ross McCrorie, Dante Polvara and the currently injured Connor Barron also providing options, Goodwin welcomes the competition in that area of the park.
He added: “I don’t think we’ve got too many central midfielders. There are a number of players who can play in different positions.
“Clarkson, Ramadani, McCrorie, Polvara are four central midfielders. I don’t look at Callum Roberts as being a central midfielder. He’s played most of his good football off the right hand side or in a number 10 (role).
New signing Leighton Clarkson announcing his @cinchuk SPFL arrival in style 🚀#cinchPrem | @AberdeenFC pic.twitter.com/DmA5t5eyS4
— SPFL (@spfl) August 8, 2022
“I’m not really worried about getting every player into the team. I can only pick 11 at the end of the day and that’s where we’re at.
“There’s competition for places and that’s what every manager wants.
“It’s something I’ve spoken about throughout the course of pre-season. I don’t want anybody to be too comfortable and the players who aren’t in the team have to be patient and keep working hard in training.
“Those who are lucky enough to get the jersey at the moment need to play well enough to keep it.”
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