Aberdeen

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Stewart Milne was a "great servant" to Aberdeen and deserves praise for providing the backing to keep the club clear of financial problems, says former chief executive Keith Wyness.

Aberdeen businessman Milne, who spent more than two decades as chairman from 1998, is leaving the Dons board after 32 years.

Aberdeen won just three trophies - the Scottish Cup and two League Cups - during Milne's time at the club.

Wyness, who was chief executive for four years until 2004, told BBC Scotland: "He certainly put his money where his mouth was and he was very hard working, always had the best interest of the club at heart.

"He may not have had the success he obviously desired but it wasn't through want of trying and he deserves plaudits for his long stint at the top when many others didn't want to take up that hotseat.

"There were periods when if it hadn't been for Stewart securing debt or putting up assets then the club would have had real financial problems.

"He was able to ride through the waves and without his backing the club would have had some much rockier times. But he was always there, always willing to help and trying to find the right solution to find the way forward.

"He liked to be behind the scenes, he worked very well with the other club chairmen and within the SFA and the SPL.

"Stewart played a role when the 10 clubs resigned from the SPL, he backed me on that and we were never shied away from a fight.

"Stewart was always ready to try and do the right thing and back it up with real action. It's very rare in football and the fans have got to respect that and there's a lot of stories that will come out over time from behind the scenes that will prove that Stewart was a great servant to the club.

"He deserves to be remembered as somebody who kept the club really still pushing to try its best."

Aberdeen expect to complete to signing of Colorado Rapids midfielder Connor Ronan when the transfer window opens (Press & Journal)., external

Read Wednesday's gossip in full.

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Mark McGhee has revealed he was so blown away by Sir Alex Ferguson's "bonkers" ambitions for Aberdeen he had no hesitation in joining the Dons.

Former striker McGhee switched from Newcastle in 1979 and had a memorable five-year spell at Pittodrie, winning the European Cup Winners' Cup and Uefa Super Cup as well as two league titles and three Scottish Cups.

The 69-year-old told the BBC's Sacked in the Morning podcast about the conversation he had with boss Ferguson that convinced him to make the move to the north east.

"The thing that attracted me to speaking to Aberdeen was I knew when Alex Ferguson was at St Mirren he'd tried to sign me from Morton," McGhee said.

"So the fact he was coming back in for me again gave me a bit of confidence.

"I met him in a hotel and he explained to me a lot of things about my own career, my own play, but he also told me he wanted to win a European trophy within five years.

"Aberdeen, at that point, hadn't won the league in 25 years, they hadn't won the cup in 12, you've got to win one of them before you qualify for Europe.

"I should have been thinking this guy is bonkers. But the way he presented it and the argument he put, and what he could do to help me, by the time I had finished speaking to him I was totally convinced I should join."

Odense are considering a move for Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen and had the 23-year-old watched in Finland's friendly against Germany on Sunday. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson has confirmed 19-year-old midfielder Kjartan Mar Kjartansson could be sent out on loan in the upcoming season. (Press & Journal), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Aberdeen are closing in on a summer transfer window deal to sign 28-year-old former St Mirren midfielder Connor Ronan, whose contract with Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids runs out at the end of the calendar year. (Press & Journal), external

Western Sydney Wanderers are keen on re-signing out-of-favour Nicolas Milanovic from Aberdeen, to whom they sold the 24-year-old winger for £400,000 last summer. (Daily Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Aberdeen are keen on Colorado Rapids midfielder Connor Ronan, the 28-year-old who worked under manager Stephen Robinson when on loan at St Mirren in season 2021-22. (Daily Record - subscription required), external

Aberdeen, Celtic and Rangers are interested in 24-year-old Gyori ETO midfielder Milan Vitalis, who has six caps for Hungary. (GOAL - in Hungarian), external

Aberdeen fans, we asked for your views after the club began their summer recruitment with the triple signing of Lewis Mayo, Brad Lyons and Alexander Breidl.

Here are some of your comments:

Mark: The signings are sensible and exactly what the club needs. Lyons and Mayo have very good experience of the league and having that at the core of the squad is vital. I don't know of Breidl, but he again sounds like someone who has experience at a good level, so look forward to seeing what he will bring. Pleased the club have got players through the door already.

Scott: It's a strong looking trio of signings. We need to get a lot of the deadwood moved on as well though. It's certainly a strong first day of signings though, so here's to more of a similar and better quality coming in.

Mark L: Happy with that, we needed some proper boys who know Scottish football, the Austrian boy looks a find too but after last season I'm not getting my hopes up just yet.

Donald: Hard to be enthused by this trio. The Kilmarnock couple are solid enough, but don't know a thing about the Austrian guy. Without a doubt he'll be technically strong, but will he be creative in a fast, physical league? Will he have goals in him too? We've been seriously let down in the past couple of seasons by lacklustre continental signings, hopefully Stephen Robinson, et al, have unearthed a gem.

L Hunter: Completely and utterly underwhelming signings. Robinson will make us a mid-table team, he simply isn't good enough. The club is in decline, say goodbye to Europe and cup runs for the next few years.

Neil: Excellent start to the summer transfer business. Two known quantities who I think inspire confidence from the outset. All three being free transfers also feels like good news after a lot of speculative spending last summer.

Former England forward Gabriel Agbonlahor says Aberdeen tried to sign him after he left Aston Villa in 2018, but the distance to the Granite City made him choose to hang up his boots at the age of 32 instead. (Press & Journal), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Brad Lyons is targeting silverware with Aberdeen after agreeing to move from Kilmarnock on a two-year contract.

The Norther Ireland midfielder links up with countryman Stephen Robinson, whose Pittodrie recruitment drive kicked off on Thursday with the signings of Lyons plus Kilmarnock defender Lewis Mayo and Blau-Weiss Linz midfielder Alexander Briedl.

"It feels amazing to be here," said Lyons, 29. "As soon as you see the set-up at the training ground you realise it is a massive club.

"The manager is someone I know well. I know his passion for football, and I saw first-hand how good he was at getting results. When I spoke to him on the phone about the move it was the best call I have ever had in football.

"Individually, my first task is to secure a starting spot in the team. Then I want to help the team as much as I can. Longer term I want to win trophies. I know the club is capable of it."

Austrian defensive midfielder Briedl, a product of the Red Bull Salzburg youth academy, made more than 100 appearances for top-flight side Blau-Weiss Linz in his homeland.

The 24-year-old said: "Everything happened very fast after I heard about the interest about two or three weeks ago.

"I've watched some games; I know it's physical here in Scotland and I am looking forward to challenging myself in a new league. I would say that I am good with the ball, a technical player who can also press and win the ball."

Mayo, 26, brings defensive versatility to Pittodrie after more than 100 outings across his four-year Rugby Park spell.

"I know the manager is ambitious, as is everyone at the club," he said.

"When I spoke to the manager, I got a real good feel of what his plans are. There are clear plans in place here for how we can progress and I want to be a part of that.

"I am a versatile defender, these last few years I have played right across a back four and a back three, so I have experience of playing different positions which is something the manager recognises."

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Aberdeen have completed a triple signing, with Kilmarnock pair Lewis Mayo and Brad Lyons Pittodrie bound along with Austrian midfielder Alexander Briedl.

Defender Mayo, 26, will join on a three-year deal while midfielder Lyons and Briedl - who joins from Austrian Bundesliga side Blau-Weiss Linz - have agreed two-year contracts.

Dons fans, are you enthused by the signings? And what other moves should the Dons be making? Let us know here.

Aberdeen midfielder Ante Palaversa is attracting interest from South Korea and Europe as the 26-year-old looks to move on after failing to impress new manager Stephen Robinson. (Press & Journal), external

Read Thursday's Scottish football gossip

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Aberdeen have been drawn in Group A for this season's League Cup competition.

Stephen Robinson's side will face Queen's Park, Queen of the South, Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers in the League Cup group stages.

The Dons were knocked out in the quarter-final of last season's competition after a 1-0 defeat to Motherwell having beaten Greenock Morton 3-0 in the previous round.

The group stages will start on 11/12 July.

Read the draw in full here

League One play-off winners Bolton Wanderers are set to sign David Watson, who had offers from Aberdeen, other Scottish Premiership clubs and Italy, under freedom of contract, which will limit the compensation Kilmarnock will receive for the 21-year-old midfielder. (Daily Record), external

Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson says any new signings will be a joint decision between himself, sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel and head of recruitment Darren Mowbray. (Press & Journal), external

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We asked for your views on the departure of Aberdeen's Scottish Cup-winning captain Graeme Shinnie.

Here are some of your comments:

John: Thank you for everything over two spells. To me, I think it's the right time to go. You will be missed, but replaced.

Struan: His head was still all there but sadly his legs were not. A great professional who had the drive and the attitude to succeed. I'm incredibly thankful for his time at the Dons and wish him all the best wherever he goes. Shinnie will always be one of our own.

Bob: One of the few players this season who looked like the club meant something to him. Hard to replace.

Col: Overrated! A left-back pretending to be a midfielder.

David: He was definitely one of our own. A great leader and an inspiration to the team. We will miss his influence but I am sure all the Aberdeen fans wish him all the very best for the future. His dedication and professionalism dealing with the personal challenge of Crohn's disease while giving 100% playing was inspiring to the north east community. All the best Graeme.

Douglas: A great skipper who set the winning tone at Hampden with that postage-stamp pen in the cup final. He'll be back at Pittodrie in some capacity when he hangs up his boots.

Mark: Good luck to Shinnie. I would have been happy for him to stay another season but fair play if he wants to move on to play more regularly. He will always be an Aberdeen legend.

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Aberdeen have announced that Ryan Duncan, Vicente Besuijen, Tom McIntyre and Elvis Bwomono will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts.

Loan players Lyall Cameron, Liam Morrison, Toyosi Olusanya and Dennis Geiger will also return to their parent clubs.

Academy players Alfie Stewart, Alfie Bavidge and Dylan Ross have been offered new deals.

"On behalf of the club, I'd like to thank all departing players for their contributions to Aberdeen", head coach Stephen Robinson said.

"While I didn't have the chance to work closely with all of them, their efforts have shaped the club's journey in some way.

"We wish them every success in the future."

Aberdeen fans, what are your abiding memories of Graeme Shinnie's time at the club?

The 34-year-old will leave Pittodrie next month when his contract expires after 344 appearances across two spells.

Send us your thoughts.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

Graeme Shinnie's departure will come as no surprise to Aberdeen fans, with his influence on the pitch waning in a turbulent season.

The midfielder only started half of the club's league games as they limped to ninth place, with his all-action play becoming less effective week-to-week as age catches up.

Robinson clearly agrees as he starts his Aberdeen rebuild, with regular game time the sticking point in Shinnie extending his stay.

But the captain will depart as a hero to every Dons supporter. One of their own, he visibly gave everything every time he stepped on to the pitch.

Watching a local lad fly into tackles, rally team-mates, and sometimes single-handedly drive their team forward is not something fans are regularly accustomed to in the modern game. That is what Shinnie gave the Red Army.

During his first spell he was part of a brilliant midfield three which also involved Kenny McLean and Ryan Jack as Aberdeen became Celtic's main challengers, losing out in finals and in the league.

Latterly, with lots of signings coming and going, he has been one of few consistent presences giving the club a sense of identity.

Despite that turbulence of recent years, he got the moment he and his fellow fans had dreamed of on 24 May 2025.

Shinnie will forever be remembered for sticking Aberdeen's first penalty in the shootout win over Celtic right into the top corner.

That, and the celebrations which followed that long-awaited Scottish Cup win will be the defining image of him at Pittodrie.

Kusini Yengi believes he can fight his way into new manager Stephen Robinson's plans if he returns to Aberdeen this summer, but he could yet stay with Cerezo Osaka should the Dons cancel his contract as the J-League club are unwilling to pay a fee for the 27-year-old striker after his loan spell was cut short through injury. (Press & Journal), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Aberdeen are in pole position to sign Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons and centre-half Lewis Mayo - and are still in the fight to land midfielder David Watson from the Ayrshire club. (Daily Record), external

Inverness Caledonian Thistle are in advanced talks with Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie, with the 34-year-old midfielder having been offered a new two-year contract by the Dons, including coaching experience, but wanting improved terms. (Anthony Joseph on X), external

Aberdeen plan to send 21 youth academy prospects out on loan next season. (Press & Journal), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Liam McLeod
BBC Sport Scotland Commentator

Stephen Robinson didn't hold back as Aberdeen's season ended with failure to defend a corner, an issue that has riddled their woeful season.

It was their year in microcosm.

Starting as Scottish Cup holders, hope was high that Jimmy Thelin would be able to move the club to the next level. Unfortunately for the Dons it was back to the bottom six, insipid cup exits and a lowest points tally in 15 years that threatened a first-ever relegation.

The Swede's successor admitted after the loss at Dundee on the final day he has told those he doesn't want to work with next season and you'd imagine that is a fairly lengthy list.

In 2026, Aberdeen have played 19 league games and lost 12 of them, an atrocious record they were fortunate not to drop into the relegation play-off because of.

They also haven't won a single away game in the calendar year.

Given the outlay on the squad these facts are quite the underachievement.

There will be many at Pittodrie who have to take stock after what has to go down as one of the worst campaigns in the club's history, certainly in the modern era. It is difficult to find a single positive from the wreckage of their 2025/26.

Robinson's job over the next few weeks is massive with what Hearts have done this campaign showing the way for clubs like the Dons, Hibernian and Dundee United.

There will need to be an increase in the ambition of those three and arguably others as Derek McInnes' men have altered the landscape and could potentially be stronger next season with Jamestown Analytics behind them.

Darren Mowbray's return as recruitment guru appears to be a positive step given his success in his previous Pittodrie spell but the game has changed on that front if Aberdeen want to emulate what is going on at Tynecastle.

As for the season that has just finished, it can finally be consigned to the darkest corner of Aberdeen history by the club's supporters, but lessons will have to be quickly learned for a repeat to be avoided.