Steven Caldwell believes Toronto FC could have treated him with more respect in regard to the way they handled the captaincy announcement.
The former Newcastle United, Sunderland, Burnley and Birmingham City defender has been replaced as TFC skipper by head coach Greg Vanney after leading the Canadian club for 18 months.
Caldwell has stepped aside for midfielder Michael Bradley who has been handed the armband, and although he will remain a leader, the Scottish centre-half felt things could have been dealt with more professionally.
"I just felt that it probably deserved a little bit more respect in the way that it was done," Caldwell told reporters at training during the week.
"We all knew it was coming and it should have been dealt with quicker and in a more precise matter.
"It dragged on, and it's in a part of the season where we I feel we should be fully concentrating on gelling a team and being prepared for March 7."
Of USA international Bradley, Caldwell added: "Michael is an outstanding player.
"He leads by example through his actions, through the way he plays and his passion for the game. I feel I lead in a different way: I bring out the best in people. I make sure everybody's content and any problems they have, they put on my shoulders. I try to absorb that pressure or that problem for them, cure it, make it better so that they can play better football.
"In the end of the day, people don't follow armbands. They follow leaders."
