John McGinn revealed he could have been a Hearts star had Tynecastle boss Robbie Neilson followed up an initial phone call before the midfielder left St Mirren for Hibs in 2015.
The Aston Villa captain decided to leave Saints after being relegated to the Championship - but ended up in that division with Hibs after Hearts, who had been promoted to the Premiership, didn’t take an interest any further. McGinn, speaking to the Currie Club podcast, said: “I had left St Mirren after we got relegated. It was a terrible season, both for me and the club and I decided I needed a fresh start.
“Nobody was willing to pay the transfer fee at that moment. Hibs were in the Championship and I wasn’t too keen to drop down, but my ego got a wee slap a couple of times when nobody was willing to pay it. Hearts had contacted me. Robbie Neilson phoned me when I was in Santa Ponsa and asked: ‘Do you want to come to Hearts?’ I said yes, and I never heard from him again!
"Dundee United had spoken to my agent and I thought I was going there but they signed Rodney Sneijder instead. I went to Houston in America but it fell through due to red tape.
“St Mirren were then willing to do a cut-price deal which worked for everyone and thankfully the gaffer (Stubbs) phoned me one day when I was at Kilbowie Roundabout! I was nervous because I’d never been at another club. I drove through to Edinburgh with my mum and dad.
“I didn’t want to sign. The gaffer just kept saying: ‘I promise I’ll make you a better player’ and thankfully that was the case. No disrespect to any other dressing room I’ve been in, and the current one, but it just won’t be matched. There were characters everywhere.
“Dave Gray always seemed angry, but he held it all together. You had James Keatings, Jason Cummings - mad men but brilliant guys at the same time. It was a brilliant combination and it was probably the best decision I ever made, moving through. No regrets.”
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