BREAKING NEWS: Hearts of Oak's Vincent Atinga Declared Free Agent

Accra Hearts of Oak have suffered a major blow ahead of next season after their key defender Vincent Atingah was declared a free agent on Thursday.

The Ghana Football Association declared the player a free agent after he appeared before the Player Status Committee, who subsequently handed him his 'floating status'.

Atinga's contract with the Accra-based giants ended last month and the crisis-ridden team failed to hold talks with him over his expiring contract.

The lack of tact and interest from the Togbe Afede team led the centre-back to take the firm decision of leaving the club that will not benefit from any future move of the player.

The latest development comes as a major blow for the Pohbians who also facing the possibility of losing about six players whose contracts have also expired.

The ruling by the Player Status Committee paves the way for the defender to make a proposed move to Austrian side FK Austria Vienna who are seeking the player on a free transfer.

He is expected to leave the country for Austria where he will undergo medicals and complete the paperwork to officially join the capital-based club.

The Black Stars B defender is said to have already agreed to verbal terms with the Austrian side and will be leaving in the coming days.

Atingah has also been linked with a move to Ghanaian champions Aduana Stars who are willing to spend ahead of their CAF Champions League campaign next month.

He had a successful season scoring six goals in all competitions for the Phobians.

Atingah was a key member of the Ghana team which won the 2017 WAFU Nations Cup on home soil.

After joining the Phobians from Ebusua Dwarfs three seasons ago, the sturdy back-liner ended the Ghana Premier League season as one of the best defenders.

He played a vital role to help the home-based Black Stars team win the WAFU Cup of Nations tournament, a performance which earned him a call-up to the main Black Stars team.