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Ross County's former Rangers, Aberdeen, Motherwell, Hearts and Partick Thistle keeper Nicky Walker could call it a day and hang up his gloves before the Dingwall club steps up into the First Division next season.
Walker, 37, will be out of contract at the end of this month and is considering his future with County manager Neale Cooper set to clear out up to six of his promotion-winning squad to reduce the Victoria Park wage bill.
"Nicky's contract expires at the end of May and he is having a think about what he wants to do," said Cooper, who will hold talks with the veteran keeper later this week.
Cooper persuaded Walker, a director of his family's business – shortbread giants Walkers of Aberlour – to join County after he was freed by Aberdeen in December, 1997, and Walker became the Dingwall club's defensive anchor during their Third Division championship season.
He stayed on with County last season, despite increasing business pressures, to help Cooper steer the club out of the Second Division inside a year, but could be ready to call time on his career.
If Walker goes, he could join three other out-of-contract County regulars – short-term signing Peter Cormack, ex-Livingston winger turned defender Mark Duthie and French midfielder Frank Escalon, who will all be told later this week whether they have a future with County in the First Division. Others who will be allowed to go include two of last summer's signings - Kevin Finlayson (who has been on-loan to Queen's Park) and Gary Nicol - plus local boy Conor Campbell.
The County boss added: "It's also possible that we'll try and strike deals with a couple of other players with a year left who have been under-achieving and let them go as free agents rather than have them hanging around on the transfer list."
Eight Ross County players were reeling last night after being released by the First Division-bound Dingwall club.
Strikers Michael Geraghty, Gary Nicol and Connor Campbell; midfielders Peter Cormack and Kevin Finlayson; defenders Craig Tully and Mark Duthie and goalkeeper Barry Thomson will all have to ply their trade elsewhere next term.
In addition, French midfielder Frank Escalon, whose contract is also up, has been given a short-term deal to enable him to prove his fitness after suffering from a mystery virus for most of the season.
County boss Neale Cooper was still recovering from the shock of being handed a three-month touchline ban by the SFA when he said: "It's never an easy thing to have to tell players they are surplus to requirements, but I must admit that I've been disappointed with the performance of several of those being released. I think they could have done better for me.
"I had to act now to cut the wage bill and I knew I would be unable to take any players in without having a bit of a clear-out."
Cooper intends to use all his persuasive powers to make sure County goalkeeper Nicky Walker is between the Victoria Park sticks next season.
He said: "I know that Nicky's business interests take up quite a bit of his time, but he's a great goalkeeper and a tremendous ambassador for the club as well as being a close personal friend. I hope that we can persuade him to continue his career in next season's First Division."
Former Scotland keeper Walker said: "If I am going to stop playing it will be my decision, but I intend to take a family holiday before making up my mind in July."
Meanwhile, Cooper has been handed a three-month touchline ban by the SFA after a tunnel incident after the 2-2 Dingwall encounter against Clyde on March 7.
Clyde assistant boss Dennis McDaid has also been given a three-month dugout ban.
Cooper was aggrieved with the SFA disciplinary committee decision and he said: "I can't believe that I've been banned to the stand after a nothing incident at the end of the Clyde game.
"I put my case to the SFA by letter and I'm stunned to have been handed a touchline ban."
Caley Thistle and Ross County are battling it out for the signature of Aberdeen's out-of-contract defender Iain Good.
The 22-year-old left back, who has been freed by the Dons, is being tracked by the First Division pair along with several other clubs.
The former Queen's Park defender was transfer-listed by manager Ebbe Skovdahl in December, despite never having played a first-team match under the Dane.
He was set to clinch an £80,000 move to Ayr United at the turn of the year but he picked up a pelvic injury on the final day of his week's trial at Somerset Park. Ayr are still monitoring the situation.
County are keen to strengthen their squad after winning promotion to Division 1, while Caley Thistle boss Steve Paterson wants to add to his pool but has been hampered by the club's financial problems.
Good said: "I think that Ebbe watched me twice in two reserve matches and from then he decided I wasn't going to be given a chance.
"I don't think he likes the way I play the left-back position. I am an attacking full back but he prefers his full backs to sit deep.
"Jamie McAllister has played well in spells but there are times where his form wasn't that great and even then I wasn't given a chance.
"I have faith in my ability to do a good job at the top level and I will prove to Aberdeen they were wrong to let me go.
"There are a few full-time clubs who are interested in me but we'll have to wait and see what happens. My first preference would be to stay in Scotland but I would consider going to England."
Good admits that his Pittodrie career has come to a standstill since Paul Hegarty and Neil Cooper left the club.
"I signed an extension under their management team and I'm sure if they were still at the club then I would have had a future.
"They always encouraged me and said if I worked hard I would have a good future in the game.
"It came as a bit of a bombshell when I was told Aberdeen were letting me go because I never wanted to leave the club.
"I'm sure that even if I have to step down a league I will prove Aberdeen wrong."
Ross County assistant manager Gordon Chisholm has denied that the Dingwall club is set to sign Hamilton Accies midfielder Darren Henderson, 33.
Chisholm said: "Although we know that Darren Henderson is available on a free transfer and we had him watched last season, that is as far as it has gone. He is only one of a number of players we are considering."
Chisholm also scotched rumours that former Dundee United and Reading winger Andy McLaren was a County signing target.
"We looked at McLaren when he was on trial with Livingston last season, but decided not to pursue our interest," he said.
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