Jim Goodwin has admitted he does not want to have to endure another mammoth Aberdeen rebuild in 12 months’ time. The Dons boss hopes this summer’s vast overturn of players is a one-off.
The north-east side have made six signings so far while nine players have left in recent months., and the the Reds have splashed almost a £1million in signing the players they hope will propel them up the league with more arrivals set to follow in the coming weeks.
And Goodwin is praying they get their business spot on this year to avoid having to do it all over again in 2023. He said: “I hope it is a one off. It had to be done. I have to believe all the decisions I made were the right ones for the right reasons. I was upfront with every individual involved with those discussions. I was on great terms with the majority that left when they did. They are difficult decisions that any manager in any industry has to make.
“And I made them all for the right reasons. The supporters are now starting to see what we are trying to do which is the most important thing.
“They obviously had an extremely disappointing season last season. But they can look at the quality of players that we are bringing in, the age limit of the players we are bringing in. And they can be optimistic and excited for what’s to come.
“We are not getting too ahead of ourselves as we have big competition in the league this year.
“Hearts will obviously be looking to do what they did last year. Hibs have strengthened and improved and have a good manager in Lee Johnson who I know well.
“Dundee United are up there and Graham Alexander is doing well at Motherwell. It is going to be a hell of a competitive league.
“However, I believe that the decisions we have made in terms of the staff behind the scenes and also the players are the right ones.”
Goodwin revealed that head of recruitment Darren Mowbray has been to 16 countries this summer in search of talent.
North Macedonian striker Bojan Miovski and Albanian midfielder Ylber Ramadani were both signed from MTK Budapest as the club broaden their horizons.
Goodwin said: “We are looking everywhere. It was something I did during my time at St Mirren as we brought Ilkay Durmus in from the Austrian Second Division.
“We were always looking in those markets anyway. I’m delighted we have the resources available here to be able to really delve into it.
“Darren, the head of recruitment, and his team are constantly flying all over Europe. He has been in 16 different countries in Europe since I have come in. That is great credit to him.”
Aberdeen get their season underway next Sunday against Peterhead in the Premier Sports Cup.
While the starting line-up that day is already set to look hugely different from what it did on the final day of last season, there could be more signings before the trip to Balmoor. Goodwin said: “I would expect maybe one or two to go one way and I hope to get three or four in too.”
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