Scott Allan has claimed he is a free agent with an 'asterisk next to his name' as he started a new season without a club for the first time in 14 years.
The 30-year-old was diagnosed with a heart condition a couple of years back but explored every single option to make sure he didn't have to retire and found a way to avoid that and return to the fold. He has been without a club since leaving Hibs at the end of last season and he believes the condition has thrown in doubt for many clubs who would normally jump at the chance to snap a talent like the midfielder on a free.
Allan - who also has been on the books at Dundee United and Celtic - spent a period on loan at Inverness last term to get his fitness up after a lengthy spell out before returning to Easter Road and making an impact. The midfielder says he is the type of player who needs a run of six games to start seeing the best of him and feels he wasn't handed that opportunity in the last year or so. He is still seeking the next chapter of his career and while he admits it may not be as 'glamorous' as he would ideally like - it is what he needs to do to get back playing week in, week out.
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Speaking to the BBC, he said: "I'm the free agent with an asterisk next to his name.
"I'm 30 years old, 17 games in the Scottish Premiership last season for Hibernian, but for the first time in 14 years, the season kicked off and I don't have a club.
"There's life left in me. I need to be playing. Since being diagnosed with the heart condition a few years ago, it's thrown doubt in there for some of the clubs. I know the way chairmen think. One million per cent it would be an issue for some teams.
"I've worked so hard to get back. This is the first summer in 14 years, since I've been professional, where every day I've managed to disconnect a little bit. Retiring was definitely an option, but I wanted to do everything in my power to continue. I went to three separate cardiologists. One from London, one from Leeds, one from America. When we took into account the diabetes, we found a way that meant I wouldn't have to retire.
"I've had the condition all my career, but it just got to a point where it showed up. I had already played 10 years of professional football with that and type-1 diabetes. What I have done to get back fit is nullify that problem.
"I came back to Hibs, had an impact and then I'm the first guy out. I need a run of games, like any player, and that deflated me because of how hard I worked.
"The type of player I am, I need six games to get up to speed and you'll see the best of me. I don't feel I was given that opportunity in the last season or so. That's been the problem - there's no momentum gathered.
"When teams look at it, you don't have minutes under the belt, combined with the fact you have a heart problem - which is now all fine - they look and go, 'maybe we'll go for someone else'.
"That's the reality of the game, it doesn't wait for anybody. My next place needs to be right in all aspects. It might not be as glamorous as I want, but to get back playing - that's what I need to do."
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