By Lars Niven

BARRY NICHOLSON confirmed yesterday he has played his last game for Dunfermline.

The 26-year-old will leave East End Park this summer with a year left on his contract.

Aberdeen are keen to sign the midfielder, but are understood to be facing competition from down south.

The Dons have already had a £200,000 bid rejected by the Pars.

Earlier this week manager Jim Leishman admitted he had resigned himself to losing one of the club’s most influential players.

Nicholson was one of the cornerstones of Dunfermline’s rise under former boss Jimmy Calderwood.

However, he told Courier Sport yesterday it was time to move on.

“I’ve been here five years and I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said.

“It’s got nothing to do with the way this season’s gone, although if I’m honest I could have played better.

“I think everybody in the team could have played a bit better.

“I just feel that with a year left on my contract it would be better for the club to get some money for me rather than lose me for nothing at the end of next summer.

“I’m still very much undecided as to what’s going to happen.

“If the club gets the right kind of offer then it would be a chance for me to move on.”

Nicholson was signed from Rangers by Calderwood in 2000 for £200,000.

It was the promise of first-team football that lured him away from Ibrox and he certainly got that under both Calderwood and Hay.

His playing days at East End Park came to an abrupt halt two months ago when it was announced he was to undergo surgery on a double hernia.

Dunfermline have valued Nicholson at around £500,000 and are unlikely to let him go for much less.

Furthering his career down south is definitely an option, but one which Nicholson says he would have to consider carefully.

“Until Dunfermline receive an offer and accept an offer then I can’t do much,” he added.

“It’s just about waiting to see what’s going to happen.

“It’s really early at this stage, but there are a couple of clubs interested.”

When asked if he would prefer to head south, Nicholson said, “That’s something I would have to think about.

“Obviously, I’m married and have got the wee one, so if I’m going to move away from Glasgow it’s going to have to be the right move for me.”

Meanwhile, strikers Jesper Christiansen and Georgi Hristov have both been told by Leishman the club will not be renewing their contracts.

Hristov was brought in during the January transfer window by sacked Pars boss Davie Hay to solve the club’s scoring problem.

However, the Macedonian internationalist failed to set the heather on fire and will not feature at East End Park next season.

After showing early signs of promise Christiansen faded from first-team contention.