Byrne Top Man, Burton Next

Richie Byrne and his agent have finally halted their attempts to squeeze extra cash from the deal taking the full-back to Aberdeen from Dunfermline. Aberdeen have reached a final agreement with the Irish defender's agent and the 23 year old will sign a three and a half year deal, subject to a medical. Richie is expected at Pittodrie this morning, and he will be unveiled as an Aberdeen player at a 1 o'clock press conference.

Meanwhile, there are reports surfacing that Jimmy Calderwood is keen to sign Livingston midfielder Burton O'Brien. It is suggested that the collapse of Aberdeen's bid to bring Dunfermline's Barry Nicholson in this month has forced Calderwood to make a move for O'Brien earlier than anticipated. Jimmy planned to make a move for O'Brien when the he becomes a free agent in the summer.

Calderwood confirmed yesterday that he has approached Livingston in an attempt to get the 23-year-old in before the transfer window closes next week. However, this could all be posturing in an effort to force Dunfermline's hand in the Nicholson deal, which Stand-Free still believes is not completely dead.