Andrew Considine: Long-serving defender to leave Aberdeen at end of season
- Published
Fans' favourite Andrew Considine has played more than 500 games in an 18-year Aberdeen career
Manager Jim Goodwin says he and Aberdeen have been "thrown under the bus" by the leaking of long-serving defender Andrew Considine's summer exit.
Considine is said to have countered Aberdeen's offer of a new one-year deal and youth coaching role by requesting a two-year contract and 50% more wages than the club had proposed.
With no compromise found, Goodwin says more talks were due to finalise a joint statement, but the 35-year-old's impending departure emerged on Tuesday., external
Considine, who won the first of his three Scotland caps in October 2020, has spent 18 years at Pittodrie.
"I feel compelled to let our supporters know the facts after my meeting with Andy was leaked, which I feel has thrown myself and the club under the bus," Goodwin said.
"During my confidential talks with Andy, we discussed the parties being too far apart financially and the reality is that I cannot guarantee him playing time next season. Ultimately, and understandably, Andy wants to play.
"Unfortunately, this discussion was leaked, but not by the club, and shouldn't have been in the public domain until it was agreed by both parties.
"I would prefer to handle these sensitive discussions in-house and not have them played out in the media."
Goodwin says the Considine episode has been a "slight distraction" ahead of Saturday's league meeting with Ross County which Aberdeen must win if they are to finish in the top six.
But he insists there is no bad blood between himself and the Scotland cap, who will remain part of the squad for the rest of the season as he nears a comeback from the cruciate knee ligament damage suffered in August.
"The really important thing here is that the Aberdeen supporters will get the opportunity to show their appreciation to Andy in the weeks ahead and I have no doubt they will give him a good reception on Saturday," he added.
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