Dons' UEFA Dream Fades

Last updated : 14 April 2005 By Stand Free Ed
Aberdeen occupy fourth place in the SPL after week 32's fixtures were completed last night, with Hibs vctory at Tynecastle leaving the Dons in limbo; four points ahead of Hearts and four points behind the Hibees. Aberdeen's defeat to Motherwell has proved costly, as UEFA Cup qualification is now out of their hands, and with Celtic to face at Parkhead before difficult fixtures against fellow Top Sixers it seems Aberdeen's UEFA dream is over for this season.

Jimmy Calderwood agrees, and believes this will lead to problems when it comes to signing players in the summer.

He told the Aberdeen Press & Journal: ""Players may delay if other teams are interested in them and they may also wait to see whether Aberdeen are going to get into Europe. I'm a bit disappointed because I thought we would be a lot further on than we are. A lot is down to the agents. If I could get the players one-to-one I doubt it would be a problem.

"Agents might advise a player to wait because there might somebody else, somebody bigger, coming in. That is frustrating.

Jimmy added: "It's a combination of the transfer fees being asked for, agents being involved and players hedging their bets. The ones we are talking about are the best in Scotland, so clubs are entitled to ask for money but, realistically, they are not going to get it from Scottish teams outside of Rangers and Celtic."