Barry Ferguson was gracious in accepting his Rangers fate - but Craig Moore claims he really felt "disappointed and empty."
Gers confirmed on Sunday Ferguson would not be their head coach on a more permanent basis and the draw with Hibs the previous day would be his last in charge.
The club are now expected to have made a decision on their new man by the end of this week, with a few names in the frame.
The former Ibrox captain gave a decorous statement to the club website as the news was announced but can be forgiven for feeling naturally disappointed inside.
And his ex-teammate Craig Moore insists that was the case after speaking to him in the aftermath.
Speaking on the Go Radio Football Show, he said: "I did manage to get a hold of Barry once I heard the breaking news, and it's fair to say he was disappointed.
"He felt very empty, because he felt he could do a real job there.
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"He felt he had a real clear vision of what he could do and what needed to be done, but by all accounts the decision-makers at Rangers want to go down a more experienced path.
"So, it will be interesting to see who that particular person is. The one word that maybe I still don't think the new people get - they still think Rangers is a project.
"And Barry was very clear, as I am and I'm sure a lot of Rangers supporters are, Rangers is not a project club.
"It's about getting a club that can go and win trophies. It will be interesting to see who the person is going to be, they must hit the ground running.
"As great a club as Rangers are in terms of their support, if it doesn't start well the support will fade, and fade very quickly in my opinion.
"I think the club will now be put under huge pressure to announce a coach, because Barry has been in three months - they have not made a decision on Sunday.
"Again, I think it's fair for the supporters (to ask), who is the coach? You need to actually let people know - because there has to be some kind of understanding or excitement of what you are coming back to in the off-season."
Ferguson's statement to the Rangers website on Sunday read: “I’ve already lived the dream as a player and as captain of Rangers, and to do so as head coach in these last three months has been an enormous honour for me.
“There have been some ups and downs, but I have loved this experience and given it my all throughout.
“I want to thank Neil, Billy and Allan, the three staff members who came in with me, and all the other staff who have supported me during my time in charge. Indeed from everyone at the training centre and at Ibrox, the backing I have received has been phenomenal.
“Above all, I want to thank our supporters. There is no doubt this has been a difficult season, but the backing the team and I have continued to receive in spite of that has been incredible.
“I have said, no matter how this period panned out, I would always remain a committed supporter of the club, and I look forward to remaining a Rangers ambassador.
"I wish whomever becomes the new manager, every success in the job.”
