Crystal Palace caretaker boss Keith Millen is shocked by the departure of Tony Pulis.
Pulis left Selhurst Park by mutual consent on Friday after reportedly falling out with co-chairman Steve Parish over transfers this summer.
"We've lost a great leader of a football club and of men," said Millen, who has been put in temporary charge for the team's Barclays Premier League opener against Arsenal on Saturday.
"He likes to control the club and what goes on in the club but he also controls the players.
"He's close to the players, he works them hard, he's very structured and organised, he's very single-minded.
"He knows what he wants and the players understood that."
