Determined Jim Goodwin admits he will swing the Aberdeen axe again unless standards improve.
The manager has parted ways with the veteran core of a squad that flopped and teetered narrowly above the relegation playoff place.
Goodwin terminated the contracts of Scott Brown and Jay Emmanuel Thomas early and then released the likes of Andrew Considine, Dylan McGeouch and Funso Ojo.
He told them early doors and admitted it had an impact on results.
The Irishman claims he has a group of top professionals but there are others who need to up their game or they could be out before the new season kicks off.
He said: “The buck stops with the manager, if the results or the performances are not right I’ll lose my job I totally get that.
“But everyone needs to take responsibility for what their role is within the football club and do the job you have been asked to.
“If you are a player that’s to be a role model, a top professional and in the best condition that you can possibly be in to give yourself the best chance to perform at the top of your ability.
“And I have to say the majority of the group are like that, there are some top top pros within the group.
“The ones who aren’t, you won’t be surprised if they’re not here by the start of the season.”
Top striker Christian Ramirez was given time off at the end of last season to recharge his batteries for the new campaign.
"There has been serious debate within the Aberdeen fan base whether he will fit into Goodwin’s style of play or even return from America this summer, although he remains under contract.
Goodwin has also warned his Aberdeen squad that they will be putting their Pittodrie careers on the line if they don’t return from pre-season ready to hit the ground running.
The former Alloa manager claimed: “In terms of the profile of players, I want a team full of athletes.
“I have no interest in players who are overweight or lack professionalism.
“Players have everything they need now, sports science, dieticians and all that stuff.
“There are no excuses now for going away on holiday in the close season and coming back a stone overweight.
“The lads who are here now know that won’t be accepted.
“They have their programmes and when we come back on the first day of pre-season, it’s not spending the first two weeks losing half a stone.
“I always think you can be fitter. World records are broken in athletics year on year because people keep pushing themselves.
“So I don’t think you can ever get to a level where you plateau and be happy. How do we continue to drive that line up the way?”
Goodwin is ready to start closing deals with a £100,000 move for MTK Budapest’s Albanian midfielder Ylber Ramadini close to completion and he is also trying to seal a deal for a left-sided centre half.
The manager knows he had the chance to get the Dons into the top six and fell short. He now has to try and build a team that wants to be looking up rather than down in terms of the Premiership, as he kicks off in the Premier Sports Cup group stages.
Goodwin, talking on RedTV, insisted: “This season was a major disappointment but there is no doubt in my mind we’ll get it back.
“With the changes we are making, we will be competing at the top end again.
“I know supporters will be thinking it’s easy to say and talk is cheap, so they need to see the action.
“I totally get that.
“We are capable of making great changes in the summer because so many players are leaving to get the club back to where it needs to be.”
