Rangers: Cammy Devlin opens up on ‘very stressful’ Hearts exit

“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 mom, my dad and my girlfriend are supporting you in America. So you’re trying to enjoy it as much as you can.

“I thought going out of contract would be a good idea, but it wasn’t.

“It was very stressful. Being at the World Cup and dealing with 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 to Egypt, Hearts announced he would not sign a new contract, with Rangers announcing his capture the following day.

McInnes went from trying to convince Devlin to stay at Tynecastle for a week to luring the midfielder to Ibrox the next.

“Everyone knows that I have a relationship with the gaffer where we were very close and he was very good to me at Hearts and everyone knows the season we were there,” Devlin said. “He helped me a lot as a player.

“I wasn’t trying to focus too much on it and enjoy the World Cup, but when the opportunity came, it was too good to pass up.”

Devlin said leaving Hearts was “a difficult decision to make”.

“Hearts is a special football club and I will be forever grateful for giving me the opportunity to play football outside of Australia,” he said.

“Obviously there were other things I had to weigh with Hart – I’ve never been in a position where I was out of contract.

“Rangers was one that came a bit later and I’ve been in Scotland for quite a while now and know what a big football club it is.

“Being a Rangers player is very special and something I never thought would happen. It’s something I couldn’t say no to.”

Of the heartache of last season’s title, Devlin added: “Football is cruel sometimes and you just have to pick yourself up and take the next chance.

“Hopefully I can go on better with Rangers.”