Decision time for Andy as his Dons era ends

Considine faces a dilemma over next move if he wants to keep Scotland hopes alive

Andy Considine finds himself as a man with several decisions to make as he nears the end of his near two decades of service with Aberdeen.

The dust is still settling at Pittodrie following the shock announcement the offer of a new contract had been withdrawn.

The club has had its say on the matter but Considine has not as yet commented publicly on the fact he will be moving on at the end of the season.

That point is now drawing ever closer with the Dons just three games from the finish line of what has been a poor campaign.

Considine has had weeks to come to terms with it all. Now he faces new questions which will shape what the future holds. What is Considine’s ambition?

Considine missed the Euro 2020 finals last summer after being left out of the Scotland squad by national team boss Steve Clarke on the eve of the tournament.

With Scotland’s World Cup fate set to be decided in June Considine, having received his international break late in his career, could yet harbour a dream of an international swansong in Qatar.

If he does then it stands to reason it will shape his decision on where his next destination will be.

Considine finds himself in a unique situation where a World Cup held later in the year has worked in his favour after missing almost the whole campaign due a knee injury suffered against Qarabag in August last year.

A strong start to next season would at least give Clarke food for thought and given the defender had asked for a two-year deal before the offer from the Dons was withdrawn it is clear the 35 year-old believes he still has a few years left at the top level.

Is Considine willing to move away from the north-east?

Considine is Aberdeen through and through. A second generation Don who followed in his father Doug’s footsteps, the defender has spent his whole life in the vicinity of the Granite City.

Banchory is home but whether the Considine family are ready to put down roots somewhere else could come into play in deciding where to go next.

He could commute to either Dundee club or St Johnstone of course but if the family are ready to move lock, stock and barrel then that opens a much larger list of potential suitors.

Who is in the frame for Considine?

Considine’s next destination will be shaped by the answer to those first two questions.

If the player believes he can continue to play at the top level and is willing to move then that would open the door for a possible reunion with former Dons boss Derek McInnes at Kilmarnock.

The duo had a hugely successful spell together at Pittodrie and both would know exactly what to expect should they link up again. Considine would have the added attraction of reforming his old central defensive partnership with Ash Taylor.

Plus, McInnes has never been less than glowing in his praise for the Dons stalwart.

McInnes, talking about Considine on the eve of his 500th appearance for Aberdeen in 2019, said: “I’ve spoken enough about his qualities, his consistency, his professionalism and the fact no matter where we play him, he’s always a very steady performer.

“Sometimes he’s better than steady.

“In every team and in every era there are always players, guys who grabbed more headlines but behind every successful team there are always guys who go about their work maybe a bit more unnoticed.

“But ask his team-mates and the managers he has

had. Certainly my staff and I have high regard for him.”

Could a commuter club be in Considine’s future?

If Considine’s preference is to stay in the north-east he could commute to either Dundee club or even St Johnstone.

Much would depend on which division the Dark Blues and Perth Saints are plying their trade in come August.

Many Dons fans were quick to throw out a move across the city to Cove Rangers being in Considine’s future when the announcement he was leaving Pittodrie was made but it seems unlikely.

Wages, not to mention the fact Cove are part-time could prove stumbling blocks unless boss Paul Hartley can work a charm offensive and convince the player to move to Balmoral Stadium.

Call it a hunch but the smart money would be on an offer coming Considine’s way from Rugby Park at some point if it has not already.

What he wants from the final years of his career will determine whether a move to Ayrshire lies in his future.

CASE FOR THE DEFENCE: Andrew Considine has had almost 20 years at Aberdeen but faces big questions about where his career goes now.