Kevin Kyle has departed Heart of Midlothian with the club and player coming to a mutual agreement regarding the termination of his contract.
The 30-year old former Sunderland attacker was set to come out of contract in the summer but has exited Tynecastle prematurely as he continues to recover from a serious hip problem.
Kyle suggests it was an amicable split and has kept the door ajar to a possible return to the Edinburgh club one day in the future.
"I'd also like to thank the fans for taking to me and for making myself and my family feel so welcome during my time here. Their support was really appreciated.
"All going well, when I get back fit, I'll have the opportunity to do a pre-season here in the summer and perhaps earn the chance to play again for the club, maybe on a pay-as-you play kind of deal.
"That's a wee bit in the future but hopefully the fans haven't seen the last of me as a Hearts player."
A Hearts spokesman added: "Kevin has had an horrendous time with injury for the past 12 months or so, which has been really unfortunate for him.
"He is currently undergoing more rehab following his latest hip surgery and we would like to wish him well with his recovery and the rest of his career.""I would like to thank the club as a whole for looking after me and trying to get me back fit," Kyle told Hearts News.