Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon insists he did all he could to keep Simon Murray before wishing the striker well.
United thought they had a verbal agreement with Murray, who was officially unveiled as a Hibs player yesterday, that covered both the prospect of reaching the Premiership and staying down in the Championship.
However, it has emerged that the out-of-contract former Arbroath player had made his mind-up to switch to Easter Road even before Tangerines’ play-off final defeat to Hamilton on Sunday.
Therefore, even had they beaten Accies they would still have lost Murray to Neil Lennon’s men.
McKinnon said: “We are disappointed that he has signed for Hibs but that’s football.
“We made him a very good offer to stay with us if we were to be in the Championship and an even better one if we had made it to the Premiership.
“We thought he was re-signing for us.
“I am not going to criticise the lad, though, and I wish him well.
“He sees this as an opportunity for him and that’s his prerogative.
“So we are disappointed to lose Simon but, at the same time, we think we have a really good striker in James Keatings and we are looking at other strikers as well.
“Good luck to Simon.
“We did everything we could to keep him but it wasn’t enough.
“He is a great lad who works hard so I have nothing else to say but thanks for all his efforts.”
As McKinnon begins his substantial rebuilding job, it is understood he has offered new deals to Blair Spittal and Stewart Murdoch.
Due to holidays and related matters, McKinnon has still to chat to Charlie Telfer, Willo Flood, Sean Dillon and Paul Dixon. Goalkeeper Luis Zwick has left Tannadice, along with Frank van der Struijk.
Thomas Mikkelsen has returned to Danish parent club Odense, where he still has one year to run on his contract, but it is believed that he would be welcomed back by McKinnon if a deal could be arranged.
The United manager, who was working on a new signing last night, has been told he will be getting the biggest budget in the Championship to try to win the title and there is a board meeting on Friday to set the financial plan for the season ahead.
It will be a fresh start for McKinnon, who said: “What is good is that we have an idea of how we want to play and can recruit accordingly.
“We have a system we want to play and it’s now about identifying and getting the right players to complement that system.
“Last season, we were lopsided for long periods because we didn’t have a winger to play on the left, with Scott Fraser injured.
“It was difficult to play a system that suited everybody.
“So this year I think we will be much better organised in terms of our shape.
“This gives us an opportunity to spend the whole summer getting people in who can play in the right areas.
“We are starting again, really.
“I have always preferred to play with wingers and I also, for example, like midfielders who can burst forward and have a shot at goal.
“We had to patch things up throughout last season.
“Now the idea is to get a squad of players who complement each other and has the balance right.
“The age also has to be correct, that is a younger squad that can grow and develop together over the next couple of years.
“We want to build a side that can play in the Championship but also grow and go up to the Premiership.
“I think that is a massive thing for United.”
McKinnon, who will not be taking the players away for pre-season but instead use their facilities at St Andrews, confirmed that former United star Christian Dailly has agreed to play a pivotal role behind the scenes as a fitness and conditioning specialist.
Dailly, a qualified athletics coach based in England and former Courier columnist, will fly up to Scotland on a regular basis and offer his expertise for free.
McKinnon said: “Christian wants to come up on a part-time basis and work with the players on condition and injury prevention.
“What he wants to implement is brilliant and it is about the players being complete athletes.
“He is well qualified and has real expertise.
“All credit to him, he is doing this for nothing.
“He will be flying up and down from London and we are extremely grateful.
“It is adding to the professionalism at the club and it’s great to have his support behind the scenes.”
