Ryan McGowan has bid farewell to his Hearts teammates....

[MegaBonus]

Ryan McGowan ends long stint at Hearts as cash-strapped Scottish club sell Aussie to Chinese club

From Matt McGeehan in Glasgow, Scotland
AAP
January 03, 20136:48AM


Socceroos defender Ryan McGowan has bid farewell to his Hearts teammates in Scotland ahead of a likely move to Shandong Luneng in the Chinese Super League.

Financially-troubled Hearts have accepted a bid believed to be worth about £400,000 ($A630,000) for the 23-year-old, whose contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Right-back McGowan has been withdrawn from the Hearts squad for Friday's (EDT) Edinburgh derby with Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League and is due to travel to China imminently.

"The club have accepted a bid for Ryan so he won't play any part in the game tomorrow," said Hearts manager John McGlynn.

"Although he's not put pen to paper, we run the risk of him getting injured. If he got a serious injury that deal would go down the tube and the football club need the money.

"It's disappointing to lose him but it's the state of affairs. If good offers come in, in the financial situation we find ourselves in, we need to accept them."

McGowan joined Hearts in June 2006 and has made more than 70 appearances for the club, establishing himself as a first-team regular in the past 18 months.

He was a Scottish Cup winner in May, scoring the fourth goal in the 5-1 defeat against Hibs; indeed, both his Hearts goals have come in Edinburgh derbies.

McGowan, an ever-present this term, was seen at Hearts' training base in west Edinburgh ahead of the day's session on Thursday (EDT).

McGlynn paid tribute to McGowan, whose younger brother Dylan remains at the club.

"He's been here a long time. He's improved a lot, but his best years are still ahead of him. Hopefully he'll develop and have a great career."

McGlynn admitted Hearts are not in a position to rebuff good offers, particularly for those players whose deals expire at the end of the season.

He did not rule out further departures as Hearts seek to erase an anticipated £800,000 ($A1.23m) shortfall for the season.

[El Capitano]

Next stop A-league

[DOC]

hearts had to take the first decent offer, especially with vlad wanting out, says nothing about the quality of mcgowan

[James]

Next stop A-league

why is that

[SwandelPark]

The bloke needs a new Audi, let him follow the money!

[DOC]

The bloke needs a new Audi, let him follow the money!

[Jay Walking]

In fairness to Ryan, the Chinese had chased him for a while. Yes the money he is on is good but he was the lowest paid player on the park in the Scottish FA Cup Final last year. Hearts are going broke, Dylan will get some more time in the first team and its a two year contract which leaves him in his prime to move to Europe somewhere.

[yogi]

Good onya Ryan.
Hearts are in trouble financially and are struggling to pay their own players at times.
Ryan loves Hearts, they gave him his first start in proffessional football.
But, life goes on and Shandong Luneng wont be his last club.

You never know, he might end up at the Tic one day !
Hail,Hail

[Old Master]

At this stage of his career it appears to be a backward step but hopefully he will do well in China and find his way back to the UK, preferably the EPL.

[DOC]

had to get out of hearts