Aberdeen manager Craig Brown has offered new contracts to Chris Maguire, Sone Aluko and Jamie Langfield, but knows that seven players will be leaving Pittodrie. Goalkeeper Langfield has joined forwards Maguire and Aluko in being offered a new deal, but midfielder Derek Young, defender David McNamee and goalkeeper Mark Howard have been informed they are free to find new clubs. Brown will see on-loan Nikola Vujadinovic and Nick Blackman return to Udinese and Blackburn, respectively, while Myles Anderson will join Rovers at the end of the season. Steven Smith is set to return to parent club Norwich, but the Aberdeen manager hopes to re-sign the defender. Brown expressed his gratitude to all the players, paying particular thanks to Young, who has made almost 250 appearances in two spells with the Dons.
Brown said: "Derek's commitment and willingness to play in a variety of positions for the team made him an invaluable asset for us this season and it was a very hard decision for us to make but by allowing Derek to leave it will enable us to free up space to recruit new players. It is in no way a reflection of his efforts for the club, which have been exemplary. Mark Howard understandably wants to play every week and he was clearly number two here so he will now get the opportunity to play elsewhere. David McNamee has been bedevilled by injury during his time here but he made a great contribution to the team short term when we were struggling at full-back."