There aren't too many long-term contracts to be had in Scottish football these days, unless you're Celtic (who can afford it) or Rangers (who can't afford it but do it anyway). So it's increasingly the norm that, as we reached the dying embers of the season, there are a heck of a lot of Premiership players who potentially could be in a dole queue come the start of June.
Many of those players will end up signing a new deal with their current club, especially those at bottom six sides who won't dare offer new deals until their top flight status is guaranteed. Some, though, will be let go and face an anxious search for a new employer...or two, if they have to join a part-time club.
There are a small, lucky few, however, for whom freedom is an opportunity; a chance to move to a bigger, better team, and to earn a substantially larger wage packet, especially since their new team won't need to pay a transfer fee.
Here are ten men who fit that final category. Some of them are youngsters dreaming of playing at the highest level. Some are at the peak of their powers and ready to test themselves against better opposition. Some are veterans who are on the lookout for a last big contract. But each of them is likely to have an agent who fields a lot of calls from managers this summer...
STEVEN ANDERSON (St. Johnstone)
Look, I'm not just mentioning Anderson because of that ridiculous backheel goal he scored the other day, all right? 10 years into his St. Johnstone career, he has quietly become one of the most reliable central defenders in the league. 'Ando' isn't flashy, but he so rarely makes a mistake that, when he does (such as in the League Cup Semi against Aberdeen), it's picked up on. Relatively quick and excellent in his positioning, he can form a great tandem with a more physical partner (on the pitch, I mean. Please don't take that the wrong way!). He's been granted a testimonial next season, which may result in enough of a guilt trip to keep him in Perth, but, at age 28, he's close to his peak and he may feel he can earn more, and play at a higher standard, elsewhere.
KRIS BOYD (Kilmarnock)
I admit it, I thought that when Kris Boyd returned to his first club he would put on more stones than he would score goals. And I was spectacularly wrong. Whilst not quite as sharp as he was during his peak years at Ibrox, the 30 year old is probably still the deadliest penalty box predator in the country and has mustered a sensational 19 goals already this season. It's no secret that he was hoping for something better last summer than a further year at Rugby Park, and he was repeatedly linked with a move south in January too. Boyd will fancy that he has one last payday left, and will probably be hoping for a phone call from a number with a Govan area code.
MURRAY DAVIDSON (St Johnstone)
This time last season, Davidson was out of contract, and his stock was sky-high. Yet a big move never materialised and he returned to Perth at the end of July and signed on for another year. Possibly because of missing pre-season, he was a shadow of his previous self in the early months of the campaign, to the point that he wasn't always a first pick in midfield. But he gradually got back up to speed...only to tear his patellar tendon against Hearts in January, and we haven't seen him since. Maybe fitness concerns will put off potential suitors for another year, but Davidson unquestionably has the ability toerform at a higher level - it's less than two years since he was in a Scotland squad - and, at 26, playing in the Scottish Premiership is unlikely to improve his skills further.
GAVIN GUNNING (Dundee United)
United will regret not having offered Gunning a new contract long ago, but his inconsistency during his first two years at the club didn't justify it. Unfortunately for their prospects of keeping him. the Irishman has come on leaps and bounds this season at the centre of Jackie McNamara's backline. Not only that, but he offers a goal threat at set pieces as well. And he takes a mean penalty. It will be a surprise if he stays in Dundee, especially given his club's recent commitment to cost-cutting. He's yet another one who has been linked with a move to Castle Greyskull, but a move to England may be more likely - and better for his further development, given that he's still only 23.
SHAUN HUTCHINSON (Motherwell)
The central defender looks certain to leave Fir Park - even Stuart McCall has said so. And it's probably for the best. Hutchinson has not been nearly as good this season as he was in 2012-13; he hasn't been terrible either, but this was the year that most expected his performances to step up to the next level. As the chaps at The Terrace have pointed out, he hasn't been helped by the lack of protection from his midfield or the erratic early season form of veteran partner Steven McManus, but he may be in danger of regressing if he doesn't move. The Englishman has been linked with a move to Rangers...but hasn't everyone? He'll surely not be short of offers to return down south, anyway.
JAMIE MACDONALD (Hearts)
Good things come to those who wait, say Guinness...and the Jambos keeper as well, considering that the Tynecastle youth product didn't establish himself as first choice keeper until well into his twenties. MacDonald has been one of the few shining lights down Gorgie way this season, and some of their worst thumpings would have been decidedly worse but for his goalkeeping. Whilst still a bit iffy on crosses, he is a better shot-stopper than most in this league. If Hearts get their house in order, it's quite possible that he will loyally sign a new deal to play in the Championship next season, but there are plenty of other top flight clubs who could do with a keeper of his calibre, and clubs in the English Championship too. Given that Scott Fox (Scott Fox!) made an international squad this season, MacDonald can't be far away from Gordon Strachan's thoughts, so he may want to play at a level that will keep the Scotland manager's attention.
PAUL MCGOWAN (St. Mirren)
Like Murray Davidson, McGowan looked likely to move on last summer, but chose to stay with the Buddies for another year "for family reasons". How much of that was down to having to deal with his subsequent trial for assaulting two police officers is unclear. That particular off-field issue may have contributed to McGowan's mediocre season, along with being played out of position early in the season to fit in the lacklustre and lazy Gary Harkins. But he's a talent, and one who could thrive in a better team if allowed to play in his favoured role between midfield and attack. Maybe the time is right for him and his family to move on now?
KENNY MCLEAN (St. Mirren)
The BBC gossip column claimed this week that Everton and Tottenham were after McLean. I call 'bollocks' on that rumour - no way is it true. Mind you, it's fairly surprising that he has stayed in Paisley this long - since his debut in September 2010, it seems like he's always been linked with moves away. I thought he might leave last January, but he broke his collarbone at the start of the month and that probably cooled any interest. If anything, McLean's not been quite as good this year, probably because his manager keeps chopping and changing the team and formation every week. But he remains an accomplished midfield player who, at 22, has time on his side. A few Championship sides will sniff around him. And, surprise surprise, he's been linked with a move to Ibrox too...
MARK O'HARA (Kilmarnock)
Still only 18, and with less than forty senior appearances under his belt, you'd have thought it might be in the young defender's interests to stay at Rugby Park for a wee bit longer. But scouts from some very good teams have been keeping an eye on him, and I wonder if he's already got something decent lined up, given that there has been no talk of a new deal with Killie. Maybe he should look at the example of former teammate Matthew Kennedy, who signed for Everton nearly two years ago at a similar age but who isn't anywhere near their first team. On the other hand, maybe he's sick of spending as much time in unfamiliar right back and midfield roles as in his preferred spot at the heart of the defence. He certainly will be a hot commodity if he chooses to leave.
GEORGIOS SAMARAS (Celtic)
The pick of the bunch, really. Yup, after six and a half years, the departure of Gorgeous Georgios (yes, he really has starred in a Greek shampoo advert) seems inevitable, given that no new deal is in sight and, apart from a great goal against Dundee United last weekend, he has shown very little stomach for the battle for several months now. Ideally, Celtic would have got a fee for him in January, a la Joe Ledley, and it is odd that Neil Lennon has continued to play him rather than giving game time to players more likely to be at the club next season. While previous links with Barcelona were surely just bunkum, there will be plenty of clubs who will have noted his barnstorming Champions League performances last season and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him end up in one of the big leagues - though not necessarily at a big team.
L.
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