Dons boss fears for stars
25 May 2007 - 12:14:03
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood fears he could be forced to sell some of his best players despite the Dons sealing a place in next season's UEFA Cup.
Captain Russell Anderson has already been linked with a summer switch to Middlesbrough, while the likes of Steve Lovell and Jamie Langfield have been mentioned as possible targets for Old Firm duo Celtic and Rangers.
Aberdeen are reportedly £13million in the red and Calderwood fears some of the club's prize assets could be lured away in the close season.
"All these players are crucial to my plans and are needed to move us on to the next level," he told the Daily Record.
"We'll do our best to extend their contracts but, unfortunately, there's a ceiling on the wages we can afford to pay. We can't even compete with the salaries being paid in the lower leagues in England.
"I spoke to an agent down there a couple of days ago and he said English clubs are already aware that if they want bargains then Aberdeen is the place to look - which is a real worry.
"The last thing I want is to lose key players and have to start searching for replacements when the squad is almost sorted out for the next campaign.
"I suppose this interest should be seen a compliment to the way the team performed over the course of the season.
"But if any of these guys left, we couldn't afford a replacement and it would be difficult to find the same quality."