That could mean a return home for the two-time A-League goalkeeper of the year, whose debut season in Scotland ended in disappointment when the Tangerines dropped out of the top flight. 

Birighitti, 32, - who joined United from Central Coast Mariners - was told by boss Jim Goodwin at the start of the season he no longer figured in his plans, and almost joined Israeli Premier League side Hapoel Petach-Tikva in September before that move collapsed at the eleventh hour.

Despite making 26 league appearances in Scotland, Birighitti admits it was a “rollercoaster” and has no qualms reigniting his career elsewhere.

“The coach has been good about things and honest from day one,” Birighitti, who also had overseas spells at Swansea and NAC Breda, told FTBL.

“I have no problems at with him and the way he’s handled himself. I knew my time was up (as the Tangerines shed their highest earners) and we were working to find a solution which came up with Hapoel.

“It was crazy - we were ready to go, our bags were packed. They sent through a contract and my wife was looking at apartments in Tel Aviv.

“Then we got a call two hours before their transfer window was about to close telling me they’d pulled out.

“It was a strange one and till this day I don’t know the reason why. Looking back with the war erupting between Israel and Hamas) it was a blessing in disguise.”

January now looms as the most likely exit point for Birighitti, whose previous A-League career also included stints with Adelaide, Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City.

And there's already been interest back home over his availability.

“A few clubs from Australia have reached out and we’ll see what happens,” he added. “I’m open to pretty much anything at the moment - whether that’s coming back to Australia, or whether I stay abroad. We’ll see what comes up in January.

“Last season was disappointing the play it all played out. This is football, the highs and lows. And last year was definitely a low.

“Nobody wants to get relegated. We fought hard until the last game but it wasn’t meant to be.”

Contracted until mid-2024, Birighitti added: “For me personally, it was a rollercoaster. We had three coaches throughout the season and when results aren’t going your way there’s always a lot of chopping and changing.

“There was no real stability in the playing group (which also included Melbourne City’s Socceroos left back Aziz Behich) and it showed in the end. We just weren’t good enough.

“You go through these lulls in your career.I now need to leave and get back to playing football and loving the game again.

“Towards the back end of last season I really didn’t enjoy it anymore. I was trying to play my part, whether I was in or out of the team, but it just wasn’t enjoyable.

“It was hard from the minute I got here. I only arrived a week before the start of the season, and with the schedule of being in Europe it felt like we just didn’t have the depth in the squad.

“I think I was given a fair go - but it was hard coming to a new environment with my wife and two kids after a great life on the Central Coast.

“But the the longer the season went on the more comfortable I felt. There was a period when we went four or five games undefeated but going into the season split we didn’t get a win and that’s why we went down. I didn’t see it coming.

“Looking bock I don’t regret the move. I enjoyed playing in a different league. It was just disappointing the way it all played out.”