Brian McDermott has broken his silence over his sacking by Reading.
McDermott worked his way up at Reading from scout to academy coach to manager, but was fired by owner Anton Zingarevich early in March after run of successive defeats.
He told Sky Sports: "It came as a shock - a real shock,' the 51-year-old. 'I can't say I agree with his [Zingarevich] decision but I will never have a problem with Reading football club.
"He is the custodian for the fans and he is doing what he thinks is right for them. I had a phone call on the Saturday to go and see the owner on the Monday. I did not think too much about it - I thought we would talk about the team for Manchester United.
"It was confirmed that the owner wanted to see me at 3pm on the Monday - it was not normal but I just did not get it. I went up the stairs, went into the room and thought 'this guy is going to sack me'.
"He said because of the results and performances they were going to move on from immediate effect.
"It was difficult for him and I said, 'Listen we will always be friends, we won a Championship together and that will always be the case'.
"It was strange, for two days I got probably 400 texts. Then on the third day I didn't get any, it was a very strange feeling. I thought I would be at Reading forever, but the club are now going in the direction they are going in and they have a good guy - I like Nigel Adkins.
"I loved the Premier league and for me it is about the next challenge - I was hungry before, but this has made me even hungrier."