Hughes leaves Pittodrie after early release

Aberdeen have confirmed midfielder Stephen Hughes has been released from his contract 12 months early.

The former Rangers player joined the Dons from Motherwell on a two-and-a-half-year deal last January that would have kept him at the club until the summer of 2014.

But the 30-year-old is now free to discuss a move elsewhere after new Pittodrie manager Derek McInnes deemed him 
surplus to requirements.

An Aberdeen spokesman said: “The club can confirm that Stephen Hughes has been 
released from his contract with the Dons and is free to sign for another club. Everyone at Aberdeen wishes Stephen all the very best in his future career.”

Hughes made 27 appearances for the Dons last season but is the eighth player to be culled from McInnes’ group already this summer.

The former St Johnstone and Bristol City boss has already released seven out-of-contract players on top of telling Hughes and Jordon Brown to find new clubs. A severance agreement with Brown has still to be reached but Rory Fallon, Mitch Megginson, Rob Milsom, Gary 
Naysmith, Isaac Osbourne, Gavin Rae – who has joined Dundee – and Dan Twardzik have all left 
after their contracts expired.