Image source, SNS Image caption, Cammy Devlin (left) enjoyed his Ibrox debut as a Rangers player in a friendly win over Saint-Etienne
Cammy Devlin says it was "too stressful" to head to the World Cup with his club future still to be decided, although the extra time taken did lead to a move to Rangers "that was too good to pass up".
The 28-year-old midfielder's contract was running down as he joined the Australia squad just three days after being "devastated" by the final-day loss to Celtic that meant Heart of Midlothian were pipped to the Scottish title by their hosts.
Devlin was weighing up whether to accept a new deal from the Edinburgh club amid rival interest, before Derek McInnes' own switch from Hearts to become Rangers manager decided the midfielder's destiny.
"The game was on the Saturday and I flew out to the World Cup on the Tuesday," Devlin said in his first public interview since joining the Glasgow club.
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Published 1 day ago "It was devastating, but I didn't have much time to reflect on how last season ended and then straight into the World Cup, which is one of the most special moments of your career.
"My mum, my dad and my girlfriend are over in America supporting you. So you are trying to enjoy that as much as you can.
"I thought it would be a good idea going there off-contract, but it wasn't.
"It was too stressful. It was hard just being in the moment being at the World Cup and dealing with all that and the noise around it, and my dad asking me every day what's going on."
Devlin failed to add to his five Australia caps at the World Cup and a week after their last-32 defeat by Egypt, Hearts announced he would not be signing a new contract, with Rangers announcing his capture the following day.
McInnes had gone from a position of trying to persuade Devlin to stay at Tynecastle one week to one of enticing the midfielder to Ibrox the next.
"Everyone knows the relationship I have with the gaffer where we are super close and he was so good for me at Hearts and everyone knows the season we had there," Devlin said. "He helped me so much as a player.
"I was not trying to focus on it too much and just enjoy the World Cup, but when the opportunity came, it was one that was too good to pass up."
Devlin says it was "a hard decision to make" to leave Hearts.
"Hearts is such a special football club and I will be forever grateful for giving me the opportunity to play football outside Australia," he said.
"There were obviously other things I had to weigh up with Hearts - I've never been in that position where I've been off-contract.
"Rangers was one that came a bit later and I've been in Scotland for quite a while now and know how big a football club it is.
"Being a Rangers player is super special and something I never thought would happen. It was just something I couldn't say no to."
As for last season's title heartache, Devlin added: "Football is cruel sometimes and you just have to pick yourself up and take the next opportunity.
"Hopefully I can go one better with Rangers."
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Sources: BBC Sport
