The Comings and Goings of the Scottish Premiership by Kerry Pollock
Almost 60 players from the Scottish Premiership this past season will be leaving their respected clubs by either returning to their parent clubs, or having not been offered the chance to extend their current contracts.
Here we look at the outgoings at the top flight’s top six clubs.
Celtic
The Scottish champions started the year off in style with a number of players from all over the world signed under ex-boss Ange Postecoglou.
The club are yet to release a full list of those who will not be returning next season, with only goalkeeper Vasilis Barkas confirmed to be heading out of the door this summer.
One man we do know will not be in the dugout in August is of course Postecoglou himself, but will the Aussie cherry pick some of his recruits he’d like to make the journey down south with him?
Rangers
As for the other side of Glasgow Michael Beale branded this Summer as the biggest rebuild the club would have seen in years.
Five big names have left the Ibrox club this season, with Alfredo Morelos, Filip Helander, Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield and Allan McGregor leaving voids all over the park and in the dressing room.
Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling and Jack Butland have already joined the Ibrox ranks before the transfer window opens, with more signings expected through the door.
Aberdeen
This season the Dons fans have gone through every emotion possible from Jim Goodwins downfall at Darvel to the introduction of Barry Robson in the managerial seat.
As for comings and goings Ross McCrorie has now completed a move down to the English Championship with Bristol City.
But it’s a position that hasn’t been left vacant. Livingstons Nicky Devlin has signed from Livingston and could fill that right back role for the coming campaign.
Hearts
The Jambos lost out on a place in the top three this season but still managed to secure European football in the Autumn months with a 4th place finish under Steven Naismith.
It’s yet to be confirmed whether the former Rangers man will take the reigns on a permanent basis in the next campaign.
However the club have already confirmed that Ross Stewart, Gary Mackay – Steven and Michael Smith will part ways with the Maroon side of Edinburgh this month.
Hibernian
Many would have doubted Lee Johnsons aspirations at the beginning of the season after the Englishman stated that he wanted at least five transfer windows to be able to claim the squad as his own.
In fairness to the Leith boss, key players like Aiden McGeady and Martin Boyle were ruled out early in the season leaving the Hibees with not a lot of options in the forward areas.
It was confirmed earlier this month that a total of five players will be parting ways with the greenest club in Scotland including McGeady himself, is there room for the veteran elsewhere in the premiership?
St Mirren
The buddies created history this past season taking points from both sides of the old firm under supervision of their leader, Stephen Robinson.
It was all eyes on a top six finish for the Paisley men and that’s exactly what they got becoming a force to be reckoned with especially on their home turf.
The news broke recently that they would indeed be releasing some key men this summer including Curtis Main, Charles Dunne, Joe Shaughnessy and Richard Tait whilst Thierry Small and Tony Watt will be returning to their Parent clubs.
