MORTON midfielder Chris Millar has admitted he was left baffled when he first heard manager Ray McKinnon had left for Falkirk.

The news swept around last Friday afternoon that the former Raith Rovers and Dundee United boss was set to move to the Bairns, after just three months at Cappielow.

All the players were as confused as everyone else, after the 48-year-old had taken training as normal on Friday.

Millar was McKinnon’s first summer signing, one of 13 arrivals at Greenock during the transfer window, and the midfielder was confused as to why he’d moved from Morton to a team bottom of the league and struggling after recently folding their entire academy structure.

He told the Tele: “He set a vision about where he wanted to take the club, how he wanted to, and you buy into that.

“Obviously me being local I was keen to come back anyway, but he was a big part of why I came back as well.

“There’s been no dialogue about what the reason is and you’re left scratching your head why.

“These things happen in football, and I’m sure it’s nothing personal, maybe Ray feels that it’s closer to home or whatever his reason is he’ll speak about it in time.”

The players received a message from his number two Darren Taylor, who also made the move to the Bairns, when the switch was almost completed.

Millar said it offered some answers, but says they can’t be left thinking about the past, and must move on with the reality of life without McKinnon in charge with their next game under two weeks away.

He added: “Darren sent us a message in the group chat that sometimes these things happen. He wished us all the best in the future and the way the story broke wasn’t the way they had wanted to do it.

“It wasn’t ideal and it looked bad on everybody’s part to be honest, but it’s done now.

“But we can’t be left crying or licking our wounds. I’m sure the club are doing everything they can to get a new man in place, and a manager that will drive us forward.”