McGhee’s Aberdeen clearout is under way

 

By Michael Gannon

 

Published: 28/04/2010

 

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee has begun clearing the way for new arrivals at Pittodrie after telling youngsters Nicky Clark and Jonathan Crawford they will not be offered new contracts when their deals end next month.

 

Midfielder Clark, 19, and defender Crawford, 20, who have spent the majority of the season on loan at Peterhead, are the first confirmed departures but are not expected to be the last as McGhee looks to construct a new squad.

 

Captain Mark Kerr, Gary McDonald, Charlie Mulgrew, Stuart Duff, Davide Grassi, Paul Marshall and Stuart Nelson are all out of contract and expected to leave, as well as borrowed Plymouth forward Steven MacLean, whose loan deal will expire in a fortnight.

 

The exodus will leave McGhee with room to manoeuvre in his efforts to bring in up to 10 players in the summer.

 

The Dons manager has a substantial list of targets and has already opened up signing talks with several, including Kilmarnock forward Kevin Kyle.

 

The Scotland international is out of contract at Rugby Park in the summer but has options to return to England, although concrete offers are not expected until the dust settles at the end of the campaign.

 

McGhee was impressed by Inverness attacker Richie Foran but the Irish forward last night signed a new two-year deal in the Highlands and the Dons also look set to miss out on his Caley Thistle team-mate Jonny Hayes.

 

Dubliner Hayes is also on Aberdeen’s radar but his contract talks are at an advanced stage and he is expected to follow Foran’s example and extend his stay at Caledonian Stadium.

 

The third member of Caley Jags’ attacking triumvirate, Adam Rooney, is a player McGhee covets. That is not surprising considering the forward’s 26-goal haul this season but, with another year on his contract, the 22-year-old is beyond Aberdeen’s financial reach.

 

McGhee is keeping quiet on his transfer targets but the released young players are now assessing their options as they look to find new clubs.

 

Crawford made his only two appearances for the Dons in August last year, while Clark has never played for the first team.

 

The duo impressed at Peterhead on loan this season and Blue Toon manager Neale Cooper would love to capture the released pair on a permanent basis.

 

He is not getting his hopes up, however, and said: “I would think they will be looking to stay in full-time football, which is understandable.

 

“They are young lads and they did very well for us but I am sure they will believe they can do a job at a higher level. I am sure there will be a few clubs who will have a look at them.

 

“I would be thinking the same thing but, if circumstances allow it, we could consider getting them back.

 

“I would not expect anything to be done any time soon.â€

 

Finally some good news, although I'd like to see us keep Mulgrew.

Found him .....

 

http://www.acciesfc.co.uk/

 

Accies today snapped up 28 year old midfielder Gary McDonald  from Aberdeen. Previously with Kilmarnock and Oldham Athletic, he signed till the end of the season this morning. He has also been capped once (with one goal) at B level for Scotland. Manager Billy Reid commented, "I felt we needed another addition in the centre of the park, with the loss of Wesolowski and McArthur from last season, and we will be missing Alex Neil at the start of the season. Gary is the first real attacking midfielder I've had since Stuart Taylor in our First Division winning season. I think he can bring a presence and goals to our team. Gary hitting the box can be a big asset for us. By his own admission I don't think he did as well as he could have at Aberdeen last season, but I know that he is raring to go just now. I'm pleased to add him to the squad."

 

 

 

"By his own admission I don't think he did as well as he could have at Aberdeen last season"

 

That's an understatement!!

That's a ghost in our past that will come back to haunt us.

That's a ghost in our past that will come back to haunt us.

 

 

Too true though Hopefully he'll be his usual anonymous self.

Great signing for them in my opinion, and yes, he will almost certainly have the last laugh against us next weekend.

 

Too true though Hopefully he'll be his usual anonymous self.

 

He was annonymous last season for us, but the previous season he was actually a good player for us, made a lot of intelligent runs forward, contributed with goals and his general play was good after a slow start and I really thought he could have been a big player for us last season. Fuck knows what got into him though.

He was annonymous last season for us, but the previous season he was actually a good player for us, made a lot of intelligent runs forward, contributed with goals and his general play was good after a slow start and I really thought he could have been a big player for us last season. Fuck knows what got into him though.

 

Aye, if I recall, a few of us thought he was the next Barry Nich Oh how we were wrong.

I see now the BBC have taken to putting up little videos of players scoring goals to 'demonstrate' why they were signed.

 

First I thought it was just those who signed for celtic but now they have one for Macdonald and whats classics they are too 

I see now the BBC have taken to putting up little videos of players scoring goals to 'deonstrate' why thy were signed.

 

First I thought it was just those who signed for celtic but now they have one for Macdonald and whats classics they are too 

 

Yeah, the bbc used the word "highlights" after "McDonalds Aberdeen goal".  I am sure thats libelous!!  We must have a leg to stand on.  Sue the beeb and buy oot Milne!!

 

 

Sorry talkin pish again!

McDonald set for swift Pittodrie return after Accies move

 

Published: 05/08/2010

 

Gary McDonald is determined to hit the ground running following his move to Hamilton yesterday.

 

The 28-year-old attacking midfielder hopes an exciting new chapter in his career will unfold when Accies face Aberdeen, the club he left earlier in the summer, in the opening SPL game of the season at Pittodrie on Saturday week.

 

McDonald, signed by manager Billy Reid on a one-year contract after rejecting the chance to stay with the Dons, will fill a vital gap in midfield following the departures of James McArthur and James Wesolowski.

 

The former Kilmarnock player said: “They are a good bunch of players and I am going to enjoy the challenge. Hamilton did really well last season, they finished it brilliantly and will be looking to take it into the new season.

 

“Mark McGhee offered me a new contract  , but I just fancied something different and a new challenge.

 

“I will have to work hard to get my fitness up because I am playing catch up after missing the start of pre season training. If I can do that hopefully I will get the opportunity to do well.

 

“We’ve got Aberdeen in our first game and I know from experience Hamilton have had a great record against them in the last year or two.

 

“Of course I would like to be involved in that one, it’s one to look forward to and one I want to play in.

 

“The manager here has done a great job and everyone can see what he has done for the club. When I spoke to him it was all positive, the way he likes the team to play, and he made it clear it would suit me going forward and hopefully scoring a few goals.

 

“I scored 10 in the last two seasons for Aberdeen and hopefully I will do better this season. Last season at Aberdeen we all under-performed and finishing in the bottom six was not good enough. But that’s behind me now and all I am thinking about is Hamilton.”

 

Reid said: “We needed another addition in the centre of the park, with the loss of Wesolowski and McArthur and we will be missing Alex Neil at the start.

 

“Gary is the first real attacking midfielder I’ve had since Stuart Taylor in our First Division winning season. I think he can bring a presence and goals to our team. Gary hitting the box can be a big asset for us. By his own admission I don’t think he did as well as he could have at Aberdeen last season, but I know that he is raring to go just now.

 

“I’m pleased to add him to the squad.”

Thank you, Gary. Turning down that contract is the first decent thing you've done for a long while!

Thank you, Gary. Turning down that contract is the first decent thing you've done for a long while!

 

Not sure there would be many that would disagree with you.