He told Sky Sports: "Just a complete surprise to all of us as players, it was one that we didn't see coming, you never do, especially when things are going so well.
"We were flying, up and around the top of the league, we're fighting on all four fronts at that point for every trophy we could so you're expecting the good times to keep coming and coming and coming.
"So when he tells us the news and his decision we have got to respect it obviously but it's one of them no player wants to hear and it was one that kind of shook the dressing room for a couple of hours.
"But he told us, 'Look we're professionals, don't let it get to us'. There will be a lot of noise around, of course, but we have got to go and do our job, try and win games and give him the best possible finish."