Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has threatened a mass summer clear-out following the 3-1 defeat at Kilmarnock.The Dons were well beaten at Rugby Park as Kilmarnock secured their first Scottish Premier League win since Boxing Day.

The defeat left the Pittodrie side in ninth place and they have now conceded 22 goals in their last six games.

Frustrated Calderwood, who is almost four years into his spell at Aberdeen, is now considering getting rid of a whole team of players.

He told the Aberdeen Evening Express: "It's now quite clear I have a major rebuilding job on my hands.

"We've set high standards but they have slipped drastically and I won't settle for second best.

"Playing at a great club like Aberdeen comes with extra expectation levels. It takes a certain person to handle that and sometimes some individuals can only go so far as a player.

"Maybe a few have been punching above their weight but are now being found (out) and when that happens it's time for surgery.

"I'm preparing for a massive turnaround and it's looking like I'll be into double figures in terms of the number of departures."

The Dons boss earlier admitted a top-six place was in jeopardy - and fears Wednesday's home clash with third-placed Motherwell could kill off their hopes of European football for a second successive season.

"We have never been out the top six since Jimmy (Nicholl) and I took over and we are very proud of that fact," he said.

"We wanted to get back into Europe but if we don't win on Wednesday night that is probably well-nigh impossible and we are making life difficult for ourselves to get in the top six."

In contrast, Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies is looking up the table after his 11th-placed side moved 12 points above Gretna.

They play the bottom side at Fir Park on Wednesday, and Jefferies is looking to overhaul the one-point deficit on third-bottom St Mirren as well as removing all threat of relegation.

"Wednesday is a huge match, we can make life very difficult if we can get a result," he said.

"We have then got St Mirren at home and got Falkirk, Inverness coming up.

"If we can perform like that, we will be okay. We can't just switch off because we have won a game, we have got to back it up by getting another win as quickly as possible.

"I think it's very difficult for them (Gretna) anyway but if Kilmarnock can play like that we will not be looking back.

"We know they are spirited, they will fight like anything and they have one or two decent players, but we need to make sure we do our bit because our bit is to catch the team above us.

"Instead of looking back we will look forward."

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