Eva Olid paid tribute to Heart of Midlothian Women’s departing players as the club announced a total of 11 exits now that the 2023/24 campaign has concluded.

Olid’s side finished the Scottish Women’s Premier League in fourth place for the second year running, eight points clear of Hibernian in fifth, and also reached a first-ever Scottish Cup final, where they lost 2-0 to Rangers.

Attacking midfielder Katie Lockwood, the club’s player of the year and Hearts’ top scorer in the league, and striker Katheen McGovern, who scored in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Spartans and in an Edinburgh derby win, have ‘chosen to depart the club in search of pastures new’, a club statement read.

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Megan Bell, who joined Hearts on loan from Rangers in January and scored a memorable free-kick against Hibs, will return to her parent club. Aimee Anderson, Shona Cowan, Ciara Grant, Eilidh Davies, Jenna Penman, Cailin Michie, Danni Findlay and Erin Rennie will also leave once their contracts expire.

Olid told the Hearts website: “Firstly, I would like to place on record my thanks to all the players who are moving on.

“In the three years that I’ve been at Hearts, we have gone through a big transition from being an amateur team to going semi-professional. During which, we have made positive improvements and changes.

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“All of these players have helped us create history for the football club. Whether it be securing back-to-back fourth-place finishes, reaching our first Scottish Cup final, or our first victory over a top three side.

“They’ve all played their part on our journey, and we wish them all the very best for the future.”