Russell Anderson admits he was stunned to learn his former Aberdeen defensive stalwart partner Andrew Considine's time at Pittodrie was over.
But he insists nothing surprises him in football anymore.
The 35-year-old will leave the Dons this summer 18 years after making his Aberdeen debut in a 2-1 defeat to Dundee in May, 2004 after his contract offer was withdrawn, with manager Jim Goodwin furious the news was made public.
Anderson, who was the last Aberdeen captain to lift silverware and is seventh compared to Considine's fourth in the list of all-time Dons appearances, partnered him at the heart of the defence during his two spells at the club, although both players also played full back.
And he admits he's puzzled Considine, who has made 569 appearances - behind only Willie Miller, Alex McLeish and Bobby Clark - is on his way out after he was put on the bench recently after battling back from a knee injury earlier this season.
He praised his former colleague who famously played and impressed for Scotland in Euro 2020 qualification as they ended their tournament exile.
Anderson said: "To be honest, nothing in football really surprises me.
"When the news broke, given what we had previously heard, yes, it was surprising. But does anything in football really shock you now? Probably not.
"I think we've all been in the game long enough to know that something like this can happen.
"But it's disappointing from Andy's point of view.
"Who knows what's gone on behind the scenes? We don't know what went on in the discussions and the negotiations and I am sure throughout all of this, Andy's focus has been on getting fit because Aberdeen have definitely missed him this season.
"He's been on the bench for the last couple of games and I can't imagine the manager would have been putting him on the bench if he didn't feel he could call on him if required even though he has been out for a long period of time, so it is surprising.
"Andy feels like he has been there forever and he has!
"He was just a young boy coming through when I first left the club, but I noticed a big difference in him when I came back.
"He has got better and better over the course of his career to the point that I knew Aberdeen would miss him this season because he's been so reliable and his performance levels have been really consistent.
"Andy certainly deserved to be in the Scotland team and you could argue he deserved to be in slightly earlier than he was.
"He didn't look out of place at all and fitted in seamlessly to that level. But that wasn't a surprise because his performance levels at Aberdeen have been excellent "
And Anderson has no doubts the three-times capped stopper will have plenty of offers when he decides to make his next step in his career this summer.
He said: "I don't know what Andy will do now. He obviously has a big decision to make. It will be interesting to see what he does assuming Aberdeen is completely dead in the water for him now.
"I think he would certainly be in a position to offer something to another club. And he is a very good role model too as well as being a very good player.
"A manager would look at him and see what he could add to a dressing room, with his calming nature as much as anything.
"He's an excellent professional and looks after himself. He's always been good that way."
