Ray Wilkins says he was left stunned by Fulham’s division to sack him ahead of this weekend’s play-off semi-final – and that his departure hurts more for being at the hands of his good friend Kevin Keegan.

Wilkins told The Daily Mirror that he was informed of Keegan’s decision on Wednesday evening as he was preparing for Saturday’s first leg meeting with Grimsby Town at Craven Cottage.

“Kevin is a mate, yes, he is. But Kevin has made his decision and he told me personally on Wednesday night. That was the first I knew that I was out. You can say it was tough for me, but I imagine it was hard for him, too.

I’m still trying to mull over what has happened to me. Why I have been sacked is for the other side to explain, I think, not me. It has been one of the most difficult days, as you can imagine. I enjoyed my time at Fulham, even though it lasted only eight months. I enjoyed working with the players. I enjoyed it. Up until last night.

The 41 year-old, who succeed Micky Adams at Fulham last September after Mohamed Al-Fayed enticed the former England captain to join Keegan as part of a new management structure at the club he had bought last summer, angrily denied reports that he had received a £750,000 pay off.

“I have got nowhere near those sort of figures. I know it’s been said I was on pounds 400,000 a year but that’s just nonsense. How could a Second Division club afford a manager on that level? The figures are wrong. It was not possible for me to earn that amount.”