Devlin opens up on 'too stressful' Hearts exit for Rangers

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reports that Cammy Devlin has spoken publicly about the uncertainty surrounding his move from Heart of Midlothian to Rangers, saying it became “too stressful” to travel to the World Cup while his club future was unresolved. The 28-year-old midfielder was out of contract after Hearts’ season ended with a final-day defeat by Celtic, a result that saw the Edinburgh club miss out on the Scottish title.

According to the BBC, Devlin joined Australia’s World Cup squad three days after that loss while still considering a new Hearts deal and interest from elsewhere. He said the timing made it difficult to fully focus on the tournament, with family members in the United States supporting him and regular questions about what would happen next. He did not add to his five Australia caps at the competition, and Hearts later confirmed he would not sign a new contract.

Rangers announced Devlin’s signing the following day. The midfielder linked the decision in part to his relationship with Derek McInnes, who had moved from Hearts to become Rangers manager. Devlin described McInnes as an important influence on his development and said the chance to join the Glasgow club arrived later in the process but was not one he could reject.

Devlin also said leaving Hearts was difficult, noting the club had given him his first opportunity to play outside Australia. The move matters in Scottish football terms because it takes a key player from a recent title challenger to Rangers, where Devlin said he hopes to improve on last season’s disappointment.