Derek McInnes has revealed that Kyle Lafferty's Kilmarnock exit was a board decision and the Rugby Park boss wanted the Northern Ireland international to stay.
The former Rangers and Hearts man was released on deadline day and Killie confirmed the news in a shock one line statement on their website.
Kilmarnock tried late on to bring in striking cover after Lafferty's departure, but they were unable to bring in any further additions to the Rugby Park squad.
And McInnes now says he is short on options as he aims to get his side out of the Scottish Premiership relegation battle.
"All I can say is, it wasn't something that I wanted to happen," said McInnes to BBC Sportspound.
"It was a conversation between the board and Kyle [Lafferty]. I don't want to say any more.
"We were trying to bring forward players in and it's left us really short so we're disappointed that's the outcome. It was between the club and Kyle and unfortunately for us, Kyle has left."
The Northern Ireland international recently returned from a 10-game ban imposed by the Scottish Football Association for making a sectarian comment on a night out while on international duty, which was filmed and uploaded on social media.
Lafferty was later followed out of the club by another striker, Oli Shaw yesterday.
A club statement read: “It’s with regret that Kyle Lafferty and Kilmarnock Football Club have parted company by mutual consent. We thank Kyle for his service to the club.”
The 35-year-old has played in four games since returning from his suspension. Lafferty returned to Rugby Park a year ago and scored 11 goals in his second spell with the club.
Shaw was sold to Barnsley for an undisclosed fee to add further scope for fresh faces.
McInnes added another Northern Irish international striker, Kyle Vassell, earlier in the month and brought in 18-year-old Liverpool left-back Luke Chambers on loan on Monday.
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