MIDFIELD dynamo Barry Nicholson will lead a mass exodus of players out of the Pittodrie door at the end of the season.
Dons boss Jimmy Calderwood finally confirmed today that Nicholson has turned down the offer of a new contract at Pittodrie.
The Aberdeen manager also added that striker Lee Miller has yet to decide one way or another regarding the deal offered to him.
This news would have been hard for the Dons fans to swallow had the team not shamefully underperformed throughout most of this season, most recently in the pathetic capitulation to Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup semi-final on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Derek Soutar, Greg Kelly, Richie Byrne, Dave Bus, Jonathan Smith and Steve Lovell, whose contracts expire in the summer, will not be offered new deals.
This list of players nearly makes a full team when added to big-name departures Michael Hart and Chris Clark, who left for the bright lights of the English lower leagues in January.
Calderwood told RedWeb: "It's obviously disappointing that Barry has decided to move on but, to be honest, it did not come as a huge surprise.
"As far as Lee is concerned, he is leaving his options open and, while I'm hopeful that he will decide to stay, we have to obviously prepare a squad with next season in mind.
"These are never easy decisions to make but are necessary as we move forward and prepare for the next campaign and beyond."
Calderwood confirmed that winger Sone Aluko will return to Birmingham City for pre-season, but he would be keen for him and fellow loanee Josh Walker to remain at the club.
However, the majority of Saturday's flops have avoided being slapped on the transfer list.
Captain Scott Severin, injury-prone travel-weary snail Jackie Macnamara and Andy Considine are just three of the failures who have avoided the summer cull and are set to remain at the club for the start of next season.
And full-back Alan Maybury, who arrived in the January transfer window, will be given until the end of the season before any decision regarding his futures is taken.