Interim Hearts boss John McGlynn believes circumstances conspired against Manchester United midfielder Michael Stewart winning himself a deal at Tynecastle.
The 24-year-old spent most of last season on loan with the Gorgie club after agreeing to take a significant wage-cut to join the team he supports.
However, his appearances in a maroon jersey were limited due to a series of niggling injuries and he started just seven matches during a ten-month spell in the Capital. Stewart has become the latest Heart player to be told he won't be at the Jambos next season and with negotiations to sever his Manchester United contract nearing completion he is on the look-out for another club.
And while McGlynn believes the player is a talented individual, he feels that injuries and the departure of two managers in his time with the club, made things difficult for him.
"Michael is a decent player but he's been really unlucky," said McGlynn.
"He seems to have gone from one niggling problem to another and it's made it very difficult for him to get a run in the team.
"He has also had two different managers and the situation at the moment where there is no manager in place didn't help his chances of staying next season.
"He really needs games now as he hasn't played many competitive games over the past couple of seasons. Hopefully he can fix himself up somewhere and everyone at Hearts wishes him all the best."