Aberdeen legend Andy Considine claims he was forced out of the club by Dons gaffer Jim Goodwin.
The former Dons defender left Pittodrie at the end of the season and has just signed a two-year deal with Premiership rivals St Johnstone.
In April, Goodwin claimed via a club statement that Considine had rejected a new contract offer at Aberdeen because he wanted more money.
But the 35-year-old has hit back at the Reds gaffer and says he had no option but to leave his boyhood club.
Considine, who’d spent 18 years at Aberdeen, told Record Sport : “The decision was taken out of my hands, completely. It was taken away from me.
“It didn’t end the way I wanted it to at Aberdeen.
“The lack of game time I had towards the end made it clear that I wasn’t in his (Goodwin’s) plans for this season.
“So my time was up. I thought the decision would be in my hands but as time went on, it became clear that it wasn’t.
“The manager told me that.
“You can be at a club for 18 years but when a new manager comes in with his own ideas, he knows who he wants.
“Obviously, I wasn’t part of it. It was hard to take because I thought my days as a footballer would have finished at Aberdeen.
“I set myself and my family up to finish there. I was coaching with the youth team so I was trying to sort myself out for life after football as well.
“But the manager had his own plans and I wasn’t part of it.
“I want to keep playing so I”m grateful that St Johnstone wants to take me on for the next two years.
“I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter in my career.”
Goodwin said at the time Considine left Aberdeen: “On 10th February the club offered Andy a new one-year contract, rewarding him with a six-figure guaranteed deal, and furthermore offered him the opportunity of a pathway into coaching with our Youth Academy, where the club would continue to invest in his future including his coaching badges.
“Andy’s agent on 23rd March sent in a counter-offer which was over 50% more than our offer in guaranteed wages, and for a two-year contract.
“We discussed the parties being too far apart financially and the reality is that I cannot guarantee him playing time next season. Ultimately, and understandably Andy wants to play.
“I have to make these difficult decisions and take the emotion out of it.
“This is entirely a football decision and as manager it is my job to ensure we have a dynamic squad fully equipped for the challenges of the new season.
“It goes without saying that everyone at the club thanks Andy for all his efforts over many years at Pittodrie and we wish him all the very best for the future.”
