Hearts saw a major squad overhaul this summer as 20 players departed Tynecastle, following a disappointing end to last season and the arrival of new head coach Wouter Vrancken. The exits were driven by a high player churn, with Jamestown Analytics informing every football decision during the transition period.
The summer was always going to be a gloomy one for Hearts given the way last season ended. Beaten to an historic Premiership title win on the last day by Celtic with minutes to play isn't easy to just shrug off.
Key Departures to Rangers
Fans were then hit with the sucker punch that top goalscorer and captain Lawrence Shankland was leaving on a free to Rangers thanks to a clause in his contract. Then Derek McInnes went to Ibrox, and he persuaded Cammy Devlin not to sign a new Hearts deal and join him and Shankland.
There's only so many blows fans can take in succession. Wouter Vrancken's arrival has meant a new style of play, which has gone down well (until things went badly wrong at Parkhead again).
How the Departures Have Fared
Alexandros Kyziridis (FK Corum): The Greek wide man started last season on fire before tailing off. Partly down to teams figuring him out and no doubt partly down to becoming a dad for the first time. One of the goals of Jamestown is to sell players on at peak value and given his downturn in form, £1.7million for a player Hearts got for free a year ago whose form dipped significantly was good business. He's since been red hot for Turkish Super Lig new boys FK Corum with four goals and four assists (including a debut red card) in nine games.
Michael Steinwender (VFL Bochum): The Austrian was mostly used at right back by McInnes, but really shone at centre back. He put in a warrior's display on the final day and fans were looking forward to seeing him in his proper position more often. However, an offer to move closer to home with a new baby came from Bochum and Steinwender was keen to accept. Ironically, fans reckon he'd have been tailor-made for Vrancken's style.
Islam Chesnokov (KS Samara via Tobol): Hearts chased the Kazakhstan international for a year, finally got him on a pre-contract and he was gone again within six months. Struggled to settle in Edinburgh, not helped by visa issues for his partner, and was sold back to former club FC Tobol. They almost immediately punted him to Russian outfit KS Samara, which many Hearts fans feel was the move he wanted from the start. Has one goal and one assist in eight games.
Lawrence Shankland (Rangers): This one stung the most for fans. They thought they had arguably Scotland's most lethal finisher tied down for another two years, but a contract clause that let him leave for nothing was triggered by Rangers and off he went. Took a while to find fitness and form but looked to be getting there with four goals in ten games before a torn hamstring ruled him out for months, as well as his scheduled return to Tynecastle.
Cammy Devlin (Rangers): Another kick in the stones for punters. Devlin was about as popular as anyone in the Hearts squad and talked the talk about loving the club. Hummed and hawed over a new deal before joining McInnes and Shankland along the M8, which did not go down well. Many fans (and some within Tynecastle) felt Devlin strung them along. Made nine mixed appearances for Gers before getting injured and will also be missing when they head to Gorgie.
Lewis Neilson (Falkirk): Was always destined for the exit this summer. Never really forced his way into regular first team reckoning since arriving from Dundee Utd. A loan at St Johnstone was forgettable and spent last term on loan at Falkirk, so no surprise when John McGlynn took him back there on a free.
