There is no doubt McInnes was good for Hearts, but the relationship worked both ways.
Player identification via Jamestown helped him build a side capable of challenging for the title and, as a result, further enhanced his reputation.
He is now gone, so where do Hearts go from here?
The club and its fans may feel battered and bruised, but in a matter of weeks, Hearts will be preparing for a Champions League qualifying campaign.
There may yet be further changes. Devlin has still to decide whether his future lies in Edinburgh, while forward Claudio Braga’s outstanding season is unlikely to have gone unnoticed elsewhere.
Hearts’ achievements last term attracted attention far beyond Scotland and, with Champions League football on offer, there is unlikely to be any shortage of interest in the vacant head coach position.
McGlynn remains highly regarded by some within the club and is believed to have been a strong contender for the role 12 months ago.
Several new signings will arrive for pre-season training and the dressing room will have a very different look and feel.
Shankland, centre-back Frankie Kent, Baningime and veteran goalkeeper Craig Gordon have all departed, while Devlin could yet follow.
They are all influential figures, while centre-half Craig Halkett is unlikely to feature before Christmas after suffering another long-term injury.
Whoever succeeds McInnes faces a significant challenge, with rebuilding confidence, belief and leadership within the squad among the immediate priorities.
Last season’s Hearts side set a benchmark for those who follow. Whether a new head coach and a reshaped squad can match – or even surpass – what was an extraordinary campaign is undoubtedly a difficult challenge.
