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Diamond is an important figure in the Dons side

Aberdeen defender Zander Diamond has signed a new three-and-a-half year contract to remain at Pittodrie.

The 23-year-old looked set to leave having turned down the club's initial offer but has accepted improved terms.

And manager Jimmy Calderwood is delighted Diamond has ended speculation surrounding his future.

"Zander's arguably been our best player this season and has the qualities to go on and take the captaincy at the club," Calderwood told the Aberdeen website.

Diamond was one of four Dons players who this week turned down new contract offers.

He is growing up and learning as he goes Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood

Plymouth bids for full-back Michael Hart and winger Chris Clark have been accepted by the club but the player's personal terms have not been agreed with the Pilgrims.

Midfielder Barry Nicholson also rejected a new Dons deal although no club has yet made an offer for the former Dunfermline player.

All three trained with their Aberdeen team-mates on Thursday.

But the news that Diamond has joined goalkeeper Jamie Langfield in staying with the club will be a boost ahead of the Scottish Cup trip to Falkirk.

Calderwood described the former Scotland under 21 international as 'the lynchpin' of his side.

"He is still very young," he added.

"But, like I've said in the past, he has a good head on his shoulders, if not a wee bit daft at times.

"But he is growing up and learning as he goes."

The Dons will now focus on the four other players whose contracts expire at the end of the current campaign.

Strikers Steve Lovell and Lee Miller and defender Richie Byrne are all out of contract at the end of the season, although goalkeeper Derek Soutar looks set to leave in the summer.