ABERDEEN'S top scorer Lee Miller has signed a new deal keeping him at Pittodrie until 2010.
The Lanark-born striker has been free to talk to other clubs since January but has decided to commit himself to the Dons for a further two years.
The news will delight the Aberdeen fans, who have been chanting "Miller must stay" and created a banner depicting the same message in recent weeks.
And Aberdeen Legend and Director of Football Willie Miller revealed that he has not yet given up hope that the Dons' midfielder Barry Nicholson will follow Miller and re-sign at the club.
Miller was speaking at a question-and-answer session as part of Aberdeen University's Word event on Sunday, the 25th anniversary of Aberdeen's European Cup-Winners Cup triumph.
He said: "Barry has definitely told the club he is leaving, but there haven't been many clubs in for him.
"Something at the back of my head says that he might yet stay. And he hasn't sold his house yet, if that's any indication!"
The club should be congratulated for managing to keep hold of Miller, who has played for five different clubs in the last five years. And if Nicholson can also be convinced to stay at Pittodrie, the fans would really be able to enjoy their summer.
But there is still much work to be done, as the weekend's contrast between the lows of the defeat to Motherwell and the highs of the Gothenburg celebrations only too readily demonstrated.
With Michael Hart, Chris Clark, Jackie McNamara, Derek Soutar, Greg Kelly, Richie Byrne, Dave Bus, Jonathan Smith, Steve Lovell, and youth players Neil McVitie, Martin Skinner, David Ross, Jordan Halsman, Greig Lamberty and Ryan Strachan all having left the club this year, Jimmy Calderwood is set to have a busy summer rebuilding the club.
However with Lee Miller joining Zander Diamond and Gary McDonald on new deals at the club, there is a spine of a team to build around for next season.