Gary McSwegan was gobsmacked to see Hearts pay compensation for boss Robbie Neilson after asking players to take pay cuts.
But the former Jambos striker has long since given up trying to second guess what Scottish football will come up with next during the funny season to end all seasons.
With the Tynecastle side threatening a legal battle that could result in Dundee United being denied promotion to keep the Jambos up, the plot has only thickened for the 49-year-old.
McSwegan, who also had a spell at Tannadice, said: “Nothing should really surprise anyone when it comes to Scottish football these days but I admit I was shocked to see Robbie move to Hearts.
“There’s no rhyme or reason to it as he could be leaving a big club who will be playing in the Premiership to take charge of one which as it stands will be in the Championship.
“What adds to the strangeness of it all is this happens at a time when Hearts players are being asked to take wage cuts and defer pay.
“How are the club going to justify going out and bringing in another manager? That’s what I would ask if I was a Hearts player just now.
“It must be hard to stomach. If I put myself in the shoes of the Hearts boys yesterday morning I’d be far from happy to say the least.
“It can’t work both ways. You can’t be asked to take a wage cut on one hand while spending that kind of money with the other.
“If I was a player I’d be chapping a few doors and asking questions.”
Neilson is returning to a club where he spent 10 years as a player before becoming boss in 2014 and leading them to the Championship title.
McSwegan added: “I loved my time at both clubs but for Robbie there must be more of an emotional pull at Hearts.
“It would just be too simple to say it’s a financial decision but to leave Dundee United at a time when there’s so much positivity at the club is a strange one.
“It’s all starting to come together again at Tannadice, promotion to the Premiership and the launch of a new youth academy.
“It’s a club with a lot going for it just now and that can’t be said about the state of affairs at Tynecastle.
“Maybe it’s as simple as just coming down to the individual’s preference. Hearts are a slightly bigger club than United but I believe both should be among the top six clubs in Scotland.
“Robbie did a great job at United, nobody can cast doubt on that. He should have been preparing for life in the Premiership next season but has opted to switch to a club where nothing appears certain.
“Hearts owner Ann Budge clearly has other ideas about United being promoted so it’s a strange one and I can’t believe the timing of it.”
McSwegan has sympathy for United who will now need to turn their attention to finding a replacement.
He said: “United may have known this was coming for a few weeks and may have someone ready to replace Robbie but we’ll see.
“Maybe they’re as surprised as the rest of us. It’s the players I feel sorry for as this has soured a brilliant season for them and all of the positivity that went with it.
“Nothing seems real just now with all the infighting, legal threats, unrest and now we have Robbie going back to Hearts. I suppose we should have expected the unexpected.”
