Rodney McAree insists Glentoran cannot let Bobby Burns leave the club as one star man heads for the Oval exit.
Speaking after the Glens claimed the final European spot following their 2-0 win over Cliftonville on Saturday McAree said retaining key personnel was next on his list of priorities.
Burns, who was voted the club's Player of the Year, is one of several players coming out of contract, and while a number will move on including midfielder Hrvoje Plum, McAree is determined to do all he can to keep his top stars.
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"Glentoran Football Club cannot let Bobby Burns leave," he said.
"Marcus Kane is a fantastic captain, so those two immediately come to mind and we have to do our damnedest.
"Now other players will leave the club under their own accord because they want to maybe move on and have a new challenge.
"But we have to look at what we're going to do immediately and get things sorted out.
"We have to look at speaking to these players we wish to keep immediately.
"It's difficult with Hrvoje because you don't get to have a conversation with him as he's heading back to Croatia on Monday.
"He has been a ray of sunshine for Glentoran and a great servant.
"His free kicks have been exceptional, the fans love him, and when he's played recently he's been exceptional.
McAree was full of praise for the attitude of his out-of-contract stars as they played a vital role in Glentoran securing their place in next season's Europa Conference League qualifiers
"They could have give up the ghost, but thankfully they didn't. They have stuck by us," he said.
"I look at the likes of Bobby, Marcus, Hrvoje, Mal Smith and Joe Crowe, who are all out of contract.
"They have all been exceptional when you call on them, they run the risk of getting injured and then where do they go after that when they're out of contract?
"Wee Bobby has thrown himself unto every challenge and he deserves to be the Player of the Year, he's been exceptional."
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