John Rankin has revealed Shaun Want's red card against Morton proved to be the catalyst for his Hamilton Accies exit after 15 years at the club.
The 25-year-old departed for Northern Irish Premiership side Larne yesterday, having first joined Accies just shy of his 10th birthday.
He made almost 70 appearances but struggles with injuries in the last couple of years, coupled with a loan spell at Peterhead last season, saw him fade from the first-team picture.
Want returned to the fold in the summer and while Rankin admits he was pleased with the work the defender had put in, his red card in a 1-1 draw with Morton - which wrongly handed the visitors a penalty after his foul was committed outside the box - proved to be a defining moment.
Rankin explained: "Shaun came back in the summer in great condition and did really well throughout pre-season but then in the first game of the season against Dundee he picked up a knock which made him miss the following game.
"He got himself into a good rhythm and was hitting a bit of form but then the sending off in the first game of the season against Morton that has basically turned it for him.
"At that time we were playing a different shape and now we've flipped it, so Shaun's game time would have been limited.
"He's been here a long time so it was important for him, the stage he is at, to go and play games.
"He's been through the youth system here, he's been a great help to me since I've come in and been a huge influence in the dressing room so it was important we didn't stand in his way and let him progress.
"We would never do that with any of our kids who have come through the system.
"It was good to let him go on good terms and further his career at Larne."
It may leave Accies a man down in defence, but with skipper Brian Easton and Dan O'Reilly occupying the centre-back positions, and Jamie Hamilton working his way back to fitness after signing a new deal, asked if he was looking for a like-for-like replacement for Want, Rankin said: "Not necessarily.
"With the group just now, we need people who have played games.
"There's a lot of boys here who haven't got a lot of games under their belt. They are young, hungry and enthusiastic but at the same time they are slightly naive so we need to put that right and give them a helping hand.
"It becomes important to get the right ones in to help the guys who are already here."
Rankin does expect, however, to see some youngsters going out on loan in the coming days.
He added: "There will be some going out.
"Boys want game time and if you can't guarantee them that, they need to go elsewhere to try and improve - especially with the younger group.
"They are our players so we need to make sure they improve whether it is games here or elsewhere.
"With the reserves this season, there is only going to be eight games between now and Christmas so that becomes a huge factor.
"Getting them out playing games will be hugely beneficial for us and them.
"I see right now we have Adam McGowan on loan at Tranent and he comes in on a Friday buzzing because he's got a game on a Saturday.
"He comes in on a Monday buzzing because he's played on a Saturday so we need to get the young ones game time."
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