|
It is thought that Chris Clark, Michael Hart, Zander Diamond and Barry Nicholson have rejected the club's final offer of a new contract.
The players, tagged 'Contract Rebels' by the less original members of the press, have attracted interest from a number of English second- and third-tier clubs, with two official bids now said to be on the table.
Struggling English Championship sides Preston North End and Plymouth Argyle are willing to pay money for Hart and Clark now to beat the summer rush.
The Deepdale club's manager Alan Irvine has tabled an offer for Hart, while Argyle boss Paul Sturrock has made bids totalling a six-figure sum for both Hart and Clark.
And Aberdeen legend and Director of Football Willie Miller must decide today whether or not to cash in on players who would rather slug it out with Gillingham and Colchester than fight for third place in the SPL, play a CIS Cup semi-final with Dundee Utd later this month and pit their wits against Ribery, Toni et al in the glamour UEFA Cup tie with Bayern Munich in February.
Wolves, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest are all mooted to be interested in central defender Diamond and they, too, are ready to spend money to get him on board before the current transfer window closes.
At the weekend, Diamond hinted at his departure in an interview with Red TV.
He said: "If the team breaks up then so be it, the gaffer will need to go out and get other players if that happens.
"The decision will be made clear on Monday or Tuesday or whenever the gaffer announces it, and we'll wait and see what the reaction is from the fans and the rest of the lads in the dressing room."
Nicholson, who cost £250,000 from Dunfermline and has been the Dons star midfielder for the past two seasons, is another player in demand, with Preston thinking of making a bid for the midfielder in addition to Hart.
Dons gaffer Jimmy Calderwood will be given any funds raised to strengthen the squad but that will be of little consolation to someone considering his own future at the club.
The break-up of the team he has put together could be the final straw for Calderwood, as his contract also ends in the summer along with that of assistant Jimmy Nicholl.
But that the manager and these players, who have several years left in football, are so keen to depart now just as Aberdeen's season is starting in earnest casts doubt on their bottle to stand up and be counted when the shit hits the fan.
In which case, it is probably better to be rid of them before some crucial games in the Dons season, and focus on tying down the other out-of-contract stars - notably Lee Miller, Steve Lovell and Richie Byrne - and finding a new manager.
What is certain is that the Dons are facing the disintegration of a side that has improved every year from relegation battlers to regular candidates for a UEFA Cup berth and which is on the brink of moving up to the next level - challenging the Old Firm for the SPL.
However, at the end of the day, these are the players and manager that have taken us to the level we are at now - 3rd place maximum in the league, no cup finals and the UEFA Cup last 32 with one win in the tournament after relying on other teams' results.
If the Dons are to move up a level and start challenging the weakest Old Firm in over 20 years and winning trophies then the hard truth is that we need a new manager and players anyway.
Therefore, it may be hard for the fans to take, but with a clearout of the dying embers required, it is time to let them go.
Stand Free Ed