McGhee aims to rebuild the Aberdeen squad over the summer

Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee hopes to bring in up to eight players as he looks to rebuild his squad after an expected "natural cull" this summer.

The Dons signed off for the season with a 1-0 win over St Mirren.

And McGhee said afterwards: "We've not performed as well as we would expect, either the team, or myself, or my team.

"No manager is ever happy with his budget, but I have a budget and I will use it to the best of my ability to make as strong a squad as I can."

The win in Paisley came courtesy of a Lee Mair own goal and youngsters Dominic Gibson and Clark Robertson made their first starts for the Dons.

"A couple of the young lads got games, which was super for them; good experience, and they've won the game as well, so that's good for their debuts," said McGhee.

"Aside from that, there's not really much else to say about it.

"It's been a horrible season. We've been inconsistent, we've had some really poor results, we've had a few blips along the way where we thought it was maybe going to kick off.

"We've had issues we felt have undermined our performance at times.

"We know what has been good and we know the things that we've not been able to do anything about and we also know where we've failed.

"So we're going to put that right, all of those things, and that includes having a good look at what we've done and it also includes obviously going out in the summer and working hard to increase the size and improve the squad."

McGhee now faces the challenge of assembling a new squad for his second season in charge of the Pittodrie club.

"We have 12 players under contract and, by the start of the season, we need to have 18 or 20," he said.

"What I can do is start to make signings that fans see as positives and then arrive at the start of the season with a team that's competitive and then, on the back of another season where we're successful and competitive, give the fans something to cheer about.

"Then I think they'll forgive us for this season, but that's all I can do.

It's been a tougher challenge than I expected. I knew we had work to do but it's been a lot, lot more difficult in all sorts of way than I imagined it would be Mark McGhee

"There's a natural cull. We've got 12 players who are under contract for next season and that gives me enough room to sign seven or eight players to increase to a 19 or a 20-strong squad.

"That's a clear-out, but that's a natural cull rather than me clearing them out. It's happening of its own accord because people are out of contract."

Aberdeen have faced criticism for cup exits at the hands of lower league sides and a bottom six finish in the Scottish Premier League.

"I'm thick-skinned, I'm experienced, I know you get the rough and the smooth," added McGhee.

"This has been as rough as its ever been for me, both from a football point of view and personally, but I can take it.

"The only way I can put it right is by going out and improving the team this summer and coming out with a competitive team next year and then all the people who have been criticising might have to turn the other way and give us a bit of credit.

"Absolutely no doubt about it, it's been a tougher challenge than I expected. I knew we had work to do, but it's been a lot, lot more difficult in all sorts of ways than I imagined it would be."

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