Clevid Dikamona led the exodus from Kilmarnock – and claimed Tommy Wright blanked him in the relegation run-in.
With his contract up next week the French defender is heading back to Normandy after being separated from his family for six months due to the pandemic.
Dikamona was one of 10 players cut loose yesterday as Killie cut their cloth in terms of personnel ahead of their bid to return to the top flight at the first time of asking.
The former Hearts defender made just 12 appearances as his side succumbed to the drop for the first time in 28 years.
Only two of those came after Wright replaced axed Alex Dyer in February – the last when he picked up a hamstring injury in a 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen later that month.
The 30-year-old insists he was fit to play his part in the crucial closing stages but was left bewildered by a decision to take him out of the squad just hours before the Scottish Cup defeat by St Mirren.
Dikamona said: “Everyone is hurting. I would have liked a chance to play my part.
“I got injured shortly after the manager arrived but I was back training within three or four weeks. I was supposed to be playing against St Mirren in the Scottish Cup but at the last minute the gaffer changed his mind.
“He gave me no indication of it but I just had to accept his decision. I still respect him. He tried a lot in the last few months. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. He had some good ideas. ”
Captain Gary Dicker is also leaving but Dikamona reckons Kilmarnock still need some older heads.
He added: “If they want to have the chance to return to the Premiership they need to keep experienced guys like Kirk Broadfoot and Alan Power.”
