St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin insists Hibernian are "lucky" to be close to a deadline day move for midfielder Kyle Magennis.
The 22-year-old was handed the captain's armband at the Paisley club in the summer, despite being months away from a return from the cruciate ligament injury which ended his season in January.
Goodwin previously praised the Saints' board for standing firm in the face of a 'substantial' bid from Jack Ross's side, but conceded a third offer on Friday was too good to turn down.
Magennis watched from the stand as Hibs edged past Hamilton Academical 3-2 courtesy of a Kevin Nisbet brace and a Paul Hanlon header.
And Goodwin admitted he was "gutted" to be on the verge of losing his midfield star.
"I told Kyle last week we could not possibly sell him in the circumstances," he said.
“I made him our captain in the summer because I think he’s one of the best midfielders in the country.
"Hibs are very lucky to get him. I am gutted to lose him. Unfortunately something happened. A bid was too good to turn down. It was out of my control. In the current climate financially things are tight for every club and we are no different."
Magennis' contract at the Simple Digital Arena is up at the end of the season, at which point the Scotland under-21 cap is free to seek a move elsewhere.
Ross has been frustrated in his efforts to secure midfield reinforcements in the window, with Ross McCrorie the most prominent of several players to slip through the Hibees' fingers.
Magennis was handed his senior debut by Ross in a 2-0 defeat to Hibs at Easter Road while he was St Mirren boss in the Championship.
Goodwin revealed he was frustrated to lose the player, but insisted he could be a leading light in green and white.
“I felt we could have held onto him and dug our heels in and waited until January and found a capable replacement," he said.
“That decision was made by the board.
“They accepted the offer. I don’t know what the figure was and we wish Kyle all the luck in the world.”
