Gary Mackay fears the Hearts board have acted too soon in sacking Robbie Neilson and insists he deserved until at least the Premiership split.
Neilson was axed as manager on Sunday, just 24 hours after a 2-0 home defeat to St Mirren saw the Gorgie side being overtaken by Aberdeen in third place.
The club took action with their hopes of finishing third for a successive second year in real danger amid a current five game losing run.
Despite leading the team to third place in the top-flight last year - which secured a £5 million Europe Conference League group stage windfall - the Hearts hierarchy decided that the 42-year-old could not turn the team’s fortunes around.
But club legend Mackay - the club’s record appearance holder - thinks differently and believes Neilson deserved to be in charge of at least Saturday’s derby at Hibs and the clash with Ross County.
He said: “We have to watch what we wish for.
“I worry a wee bit about the boardroom status just now.
“(Chair) Ann Budge showed great support to Robbie after the Alloa and Brora defeats and that is why I’m not convinced personally that it has been a unanimous decision and I can understand that.
“I would have given Robbie at least the next two games. "I think it’s a big big decision to have made at this point in time and it’s not one I agree with totally.
“There are demands because we have a bigger squad, fan ownership, money being ploughed into the club and I feel personally the next two games would have shown if we could have turned it around.
“I think Robbie would have done that but the club have made a decision otherwise and I’m not convinced.”
Mackay was at Saturday’s clash with St Mirren and believes the fierce criticism of Neilson from some of the fans at full-time was over the top.
Neilson was the subject of some fierce abuse as he made his way up the tunnel.
He added: “Saturday was not a good performance and result.
"I was talking to some of the Schalke supporters who have formed a rapport with the club since 2004 and they were taken aback by the lack of support for the team and I would have to agree with them to an extent.
“I felt the level of personal abuse Robbie took wasn’t in keeping with where Hearts supporters are.
“He is someone who has led us well.”
