Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson delivers contract update on Alfie Stewart and Alfie Bavidge

Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson has confirmed new contracts have been offered to Alfie Stewart and Alfie Bavidge.

Midfielder Stewart and striker Bavidge’s Dons careers looked to be over as they both have deals expiring this summer, and were previously informed they would not be extended.

The decision not to offer new contracts was made before Robinson was appointed boss in March.

Stewart, 19, and Bavidge, 20, were key in Caley Thistle’s League One title glory this season whilst on loan at the Inverness club.

Robinson opted to run the rule over the duo in recent weeks and has offered both players contracts after the youth academy graduates impressed.

Robinson on Aberdeen future of Stewart and Bavidge

Bavidge, who has has made five appearances for Aberdeen’s first team, scored 20 goals for Caley Thistle this season.

Stewart was voted William Hill League 1 player of the year after scoring eight goals and pitching in with seven assists.

Robinson also confirmed former AC Milan striker Marko Lazetic could exit the club in the summer, only a year into a four-year contract.

The Dons boss said: “Alfie Stewart and Alfie Bavidge have been offered new deals.

“We are hoping to get these young boys tied down.

“It was something I inherited, we had maybe made a previous decision, I don’t know why, rightly or wrongly.

“Both have come in and impressed.

“We have offered them contracts because we want to keep them and we want them to develop here.”

Offering Bavidge and Stewart new contracts is the latest club U-turn on the future of young players overseen by Robinson.

Aberdeen recently secured midfielder Findlay Marshall on a new contract.

Bavidge and Stewart need game time

The 20-year old was told by former Dons boss Jimmy Thelin he could find another club last summer after being deemed surplus to requirements at Pittodrie.

Marshall, who was out of contract in the summer, impressed on loan at Championship Arbroath this season with 14 goals and four assists.

It is understood Bavidge and Stewart have also been offered permanent deals at Caley Thistle who will compete in the Championship next season.

If they pen the Dons deals offered they will have the chance to fight for a first team spot during pre-season.

However, Robinson accepts at this stage of their career regular game time is vital so another loan spell could be an option.

The Dons boss said: “We feel they might have a future going forward in the first-team.

“They need to keep playing games and that is something we are very conscious of next season.

“They will have lot of suitors.

“Anybody in the Championship or League One would take both Alfies.

“Clubs have phoned me about them and there are a lot of clubs interested in them.

“It makes me go, we definitely need to keep them.”

Robinson has spent the last two days in talks with players regarding their Pittodrie futures for next season.

Lazetic set for Aberdeen summer exit

He is set to oversee a summer transfer window rebuild of an expensively assembled squad that were threatened with being dragged into a relegation battle.

The Press and Journal this week revealed striker Lazetic wants to leave Aberdeen this summer, and has interest from clubs in Europe and the United States.

Former AC Milan striker Lazetic is currently in Serbia as he returned home recently due to a family situation, and will miss Sunday’s clash at Dundee.

The 22-year-old has started two games under Robinson.

However, he has not featured since being substituted at half-time in a 2-0 loss at St Mirren last month.

It is understood clubs in the English Championship, Spain’s LaLiga 2 and US MLS clubs have the striker on their radar.

Robinson says a summer exit could be the best option for both parties if a deal can be done.

He said: “Marko has not featured a lot under me.

“He needs to play football at his age and we feel that would be best for both parties if that did happen.

“Obviously, that has come from Marko’s side rather than mine in terms of the press coverage.

“It is something we will look at over the summer.

“As we will look at with every player.

“Marko is not alone, to see if they are part of the squad going forward.”

Aberdeen’s season will end on Sunday with a bottom six trip to Dundee, with eighth place the highest the Dons can achieve.

Yengi and Ambrose futures discussed

They will come back for pre-season next month and Robinson confirmed Kusini Yengi and Peter Ambrose could both return.

Yengi picked up a quad injury whilst on loan at Japan’s Cerezo Osaka.

Ambrose was on loan Hungary’s DVTK, who were relegated from the top-flight.

Robinson said: “I certainly haven’t seen any of them at close quarters.

“Yengi’s currently injured  but I do believe he might be back maybe two or three weeks into pre-season.

“Ambrose I’ve not seen a lot of.

“If they come back, then they’ll have an opportunity to impress, of course, and if somebody steps up.

“Sometimes you get that.

“It would be a nice surprise to see that.”

Meanwhile Robinson has confirmed first team coach Ian Burchnall will leave Aberdeen.

First team coach Burchnall to leave

Burchnall, 43, was taken in on a short-term basis to help former interim boss Peter Leven before Robinson’s appointment as head coach in March.

Following Robinson’s appointment a review of the coaching structure resulted in the exit of Peter Leven and Tony Docherty.

Former Notts County, Forest Green Rovers, Viking (Norway) and Ostersunds (Sweden) manager Burchnall remained.

Aberdeen have already had talks with candidates to replace Burchnall.

Robinson said: “Ian won’t be staying.

“He came up on a short-term basis and has been fantastic, with a wealth of knowledge.

“Ian’s family, he has three young kids, they are based down in Cambridge.

“It is a long, long way from home.

“We are not going to change his life money-wise.

“He would have to keep two houses and travel back and forth.

“Ian is a fully committed guy and he will have other options.

“It will be Ian’s last game on Sunday and he has been fantastic for me and Brian (Kerr, assistant manager).

“We will actively look to replace him very quickly.

“The first-team coach role is very important to me and Brian.

“We have got some people in mind who we have already spoken to.

“Hopefully, it will be imminent.”

[Source: Press and Journal]