I think there might be some truth in the club not making it official at this stage now to minimise impact on ST sales to be honest.
Not because fans will be withholding buying because Shinnie might be leaving, but rather because of the negative message it sends to the already fairly disgruntled support about next season.
I, like you & many others, are already pretty disillusioned with AFC & the football we are playing. I'll almost certainly end up renewing just before the early bird deadline as I usually do - but its more to do with the fact going to fitba with my loon is the thing we do together, rather than any burning desire to watch more turgid hoofball & Considine lumbering about the park for another 12 months.
When we get the final announcement that he's leaving, that's not going to help the apathy & negativity situation one bit. I'm sure the club would rather get as many ST's renewed before its confirmed publicly as possible.