Kyle Letheren thought he had finally caught a break when Aberdeen phoned him last month.
The Welsh goalkeeper answered an SOS call from Pittodrie after parting ways with Morecambe just days before.
But Letheren’s move was scuppered by a contract technicality which means he can’t sign for another club until the summer.
The former Dundee and Kilmarnock stopper now hopes that a similar opportunity presents itself when the transfer window reopens.
Things have changed at Aberdeen since though. Stephen Glass was axed and replaced by Jim Goodwin, with captain Scott Brown also departing.
Letheren said: “I’d been in talks with Morecambe for a while about mutually terminating my contract but we had to wait for the transfer window to open.
“As it works out, I’m now a free agent but I can’t sign for any club until next season unless I wanted to go non-league.
“I was due to sign for Aberdeen until the end of the season but it turns out I can’t. It’s a shame because that would’ve been a great move for me.
“They phoned me up as they were in desperate need of a keeper before their Scottish Cup tie against Motherwell.
“I spoke to the SFA about it and they told me that I couldn’t cross the border because I had left Morecambe the day after the window closed.
“You’ve got to be a free agent before the transfer window closes if you want to sign for another club.
“I’ve been offered to sign for a few non-league teams but I’d rather wait and see what else comes along in the summer.”
The 34-year-old was on the bench as Kilmarnock beat Celtic in the 2012 League Cup Final and was also a fans’ favourite at Dundee.
As his former club struggles to find a consistent performer in goals, Dens fans have made noises about bringing Letheren home and he revealed he’d be keen to return to Scottish football.
He added: “I’m going to finish my coaching badges and train with a club then wait for next season unless something really nice comes up in the National League.
“I’d absolutely be up for a return to Scotland. Aberdeen wasn’t meant to be but I was ready and willing to go there.
“I came up to Kilmarnock as a youngster and made my debut there. At Dundee I was able to put my stamp on the No.1 jersey for the first time and got an international call up.
“My time in Scotland stood me in great stead for the rest of my career and set me up for the success I’ve had in England.
“I’ll not turn my nose up at anything. Scotland is a great platform to showcase your abilities.
“There’s better football played in Scotland than the English lower leagues. You could throw a blanket over League Two and the bottom half of League One.
“There’s more technically gifted players in the Scottish Premiership. Every week you’re playing against clubs like Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen which is a great platform.”
