Jim Goodwin admits it’s never an easy decision to let players go, especially when they have a long association with the club.
Aberdeen have announced first team players Andrew Considine, Dylan McGeouch, Funso Ojo and Michael Ruth will all leave following the conclusion of their contracts.
While Adam Montgomery and Teddy Jenks have returned to their respective parent clubs following their loan spells.
The Dons are biting the bullet with several personnel after they endured their worst Premiership campaign since 2004.
Michael Devlin, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Scott Brown have all already departed under Goodwin 's tenure.
And Considine, who wore the captains armband against St Mirren in his final game on Sunday, is set to end a near 20 year affiliation with the club having amassed over 450 games in red.
Goodwin told Red TV: “We are very much in a transitional period where a number of players, some of whom who have had a long association with the Club, must now move on for one reason or another.
“It is never an easy decision to make but having had time to assess the squad in the latter part of the season, these decisions have been taken to enable us to build a competitive first team for next season and ensure there are brighter days ahead.”
The former St Mirren boss hasn’t been able to spark a new manager bounce at Pittodrie since replacing Stephen Glass in February.
But he is convinced the club are dong their utmost to ensure Aberdeen are going to be competitive next season and will be back challenging at the top half of the table.
Goodwin added: “The hard work has already begun to identify the types of players required to take this great Club back to where it belongs. The new players will add a freshness to the group, and much needed competition for places.
“As much as the 2021/2022 season is still a bit raw, we can’t change it. We must learn from the mistakes that were made and look forward to the 2022/2023 season with excitement and optimism.”
Aberdeen have been strongly linked with moves for on-loan Buddies star Connor Ronan and Ipswich Town goalkeeper Václav Hladký as Goodwin bids to have his new look squad in place for the Premier Sport Cup group stages in July.
