The 30-year-old made 272 appearances in more than eight years at Fir Park and his contract entitled him to a testimonial next summer.

But he played just once, in a CIS Cup tie against Raith, following the summer arrival of Mark McGhee, who made it clear his fringe players were not doing enough to push for a first-team place.

After a loan spell at Dundee, Corrigan cancelled his contract in order to resume playing in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League again.

"This week has been really good for me to get back playing and enjoying football again," Corrigan said.

"In a way it has made me fall in love again with football."

Corrigan admitted it was frustrating to be sidelined at Motherwell, where he was a huge favourite with the fans.

He said: "It was hard not to take it back to the wife and kids, even my friends were saying when I signed for Kilmarnock 'you are like a different person again'.

"Because football is your life and it gets you down not to be playing.

"You want to play as hard as you can and as long as you can. It was important for me to get back playing again."

Killie boss Jim Jefferies, who signed a teenage Corrigan for Falkirk, hailed the cultured defender's Tynecastle display as "excellent" after Corrigan met his new team-mates for the first time hours before the match.

And the praise was music to the Scotland B cap's ears after his failure to impress McGhee.

"It's been a long time since a manager said a nice thing about me," Corrigan said.

"The last time was probably when (Maurice) Malpas or (Terry) Butcher was at the club.

"It was strange to turn up and meet the players but it threw me in at the deep end and in a way it helped me out a wee bit.

"But it is only going to get better because that was the first time I met the boys. I know myself I can do better."

Corrigan delayed his Fir Park departure following the death of team-mate and close friend Phil O'Donnell, and he has had to return to work without the support of the Motherwell players.

But he has had support from his new colleagues.

"It's been a wee bit strange to come away but all the boys have been fantastic with me," he said.

"They have made me feel welcome and that has helped me a lot."