Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes insists both the club and Craig Bryson did all they could to make his move to Pittodrie a success.
The Dons parted company with the former Derby County midfielder on Wednesday, bringing to an end a disappointing and frustrating spell at the club for the 33 year-old.
Releasing Bryson from his contract early gives Bryson the chance of a fresh start elsewhere while also trimming a Dons squad packed full of midfield options and removing one of the higher earners from the club’s wage bill.
McInnes is disappointed Bryson’s Dons career was restricted by niggling ankle injuries and believes the player was simply unlucky.
He said: “Craig could not have put anyone more into it. He was desperate to be a success here, as we all were. He was a major signing for us and a very good signing.
“I think unanimously when we signed him we looked it at it that way, he was someone I felt would give us leadership qualities and drive on the pitch after losing Graeme Shinnie, as he’s done throughout his career.
“It’s just so unfortunate. I think there comes a point where I understand why Craig gets frustrated, it is just one thing after the other.
“We gave it a decent length of time to try and make it a success. Both Craig and I and the medical team, we were desperate for him to give us a bit more.
“But sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say this is not working. We wish Craig well. Like I say, he was the boy I thought I was signing in terms of willingness and attitude.
“But the challenges he faced can sometimes beat you.”
While Bryson looks for a fresh start elsewhere the Dons boss hopes to be back to full strength within the next month as his longer term injuries, Ryan Edmondson, Sam Cosgrove and Mikey Devlin, are making good progress.
He said: “Ryan Edmondson will come back to us next week from Leeds. He will come back up on Monday and we will assess where he is.
“We are confident we will get him back sooner than we originally hoped. He certainly won’t be training next week but he’s coming up.
“Sam Cosgrove, we had good news on a scan on Monday so he should be back in the next international break, somewhere between October 5 and 12. Mikey Devlin is round about then as well. Both those lads will be roughly the same time.”
