Motherwell boss Graham Alexander admits he was shocked to learn that Hibs had sacked their manager Jack Ross.
Ross and his assistant John Potter have departed the Easter Road club, following last night's 1-0 Premiership defeat at Livingston, and a week before they clash with Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final.
That defeat in West Lothian was Hibs' seventh in their last nine games, but after locking horns with Ross in the 1-1 draw in Edinburgh on Saturday, Alexander admits he didn't see it coming.
November's Premiership Manager of the Month Alexander said: "I'm disappointed for Jack, I think he's a great guy and he's obviously a talented manager.
"I remember doing a coaching course with Jack many years ago.
"We've played each other a few times this season, and we both won, we both lost, but he's always straight.
"He's magnanimous in defeat or respectful in victory, and I think he's a genuine guy.
"No-one likes to see someone like that lose their job.
"It's a tough business, we know, and Jack knows that as well, but I didn't see it coming, to be honest, because of the job he has done there.
"Unfortunately it's one of the parts of this job where it comes round, but he's a very talented guy and he will be back in no time."
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