Sean Winter says he quit East Kilbride because he didn't feel wanted by boss Stevie Aitken at his hometown club.
The winger has joined West of Scotland League Conference A side St Roch's on a deal until the end of the season, linking up with former Kilby pals Barry Russell and Jamie Longworth, after quitting the Lowland League side.
Aitken said earlier this week that Winter turned down the option of a loan move, but the EK hero - who made almost 200 appearances for the club in five seasons at K-Park - insisted the idea of a temporary move was only loosely mentioned.
And the 33-year-old, from Lindsayfield, stressed it was the fact that he didn't feel wanted enough that forced him to get out and play games after a season blighted by injury.
Winter told Lanarkshire Live Sport : "I was left out of the squad altogether one night and that's the first time that's happened in my time there.
"I had a chat with Stevie to ask what my future was because if I wasn't involved in the team or coming off the bench there was no point in me being there.
"We'd agreed we could look at a loan deal and it was loosely mentioned, but that's where we'd left it.
"St Roch's had come in and said they were happy to take me on and preferred to make it a permanent deal.
"EK agreed if that was what I wanted, they were happy to let me go.
"From my point of view, if EK were happy to let it happen that told me I wasn't a big enough part of their plans, so I wasn't going to go on loan and come back when they were happy for me to go.
"I know it looks like I've said I didn't want a loan deal, but if that was on the table and there was a genuine possibility I would come back and get games for East Kilbride then I would have done that.
"Everyone knows how desperate I am to get this done [promotion] with East Kilbride and I didn't want this option.
"But if I'm not playing or in the plans to even get half an hour, there's no point.
"I chipped a bone in my ankle in pre-season and it kept me out for 5-6 weeks so I missed pre-season.
"At my age I need to be playing every week and getting game time, but that wasn't the case for me at EK."
Winter could make his St Roch's debut on Saturday when they host Kello Rovers and he's delighted to link-up with Russell - who joined EK on the same day as him back in 2015 - and ex-Kilby striker Longworth.
The EK all-time appearance record holder, who also played with both players during his spell at Stranraer, said: "I know Barry and Jamie Longworth well.
"People have said to me I could play higher, but for me it's a quick, easy option.
"I want to play football, I don't want to be thinking about different options.
"I'm not saying my phone was red hot, but I did get a few messages from other clubs.
"But I spoke to Jamie and Barry and they are enjoying it there, they say it's a decent standard so I'm just looking forward to playing again.
"Hopefully I'll get my confidence and fitness back and I can look at things again at the end of the season.
"It's been a strange season with no fans, you are getting changed in car parks, you can't change together, it's weird.
"A big part of football for me is having a good dressing room and a bit of banter and that's been restricted.
"My work has been mental, I've got a wee girl now, a couple of months old, so if I'm not fully enjoying it, not fully involved, it's not worth it.
"I'm looking to play the remainder of the season and get as many minutes as I can.
"I don't know if I'm fully done at East Kilbride."
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