Kevin O’Connor has seen some changes during his long association with Brentford but even he was surprised by the club deciding to part company with Mark Warburton at the end of the season .
The player/coach, who is fourth on the Bees’ all-time list of appearance makers with 501 since making his debut in 2000, has worked under 11 full-time managers and three caretakers.
But he believes that the past two weeks have brought the squad together as Brentford look to regain a spot in the play-offs.
He said: “I was the same as everyone, waiting for the statement to come out. It’s clarified it a little bit. We’ve just got to keep working and do what we’re doing at the minute.
“Everyone was surprised. We weren’t expecting it. It’s happened. It is what it is. We’ve got to concentrate on the football for the rest of the season and go from there.
“Everyone is very close but maybe it gives you that little bit more. The result was important today and we got that.”
The popular Bees boss, who guided the club to promotion last season and seventh place so far in this campaign, did not feel he could work in the changing structures at Griffin Park.
Benham wants to use a mixture of traditional scouting and other tools including mathematical modelling, while the head coach will have no veto over incoming players.
O’Connor admitted it had been a difficult two weeks for the club but has full respect for Benham’s decision.
He said: “I’ve not known a situation like this. It’s a strange one. You’ve got to respect the owner’s decision.
“It came out in the press so he tried to address it until the statement came out. Once it came out it was clarified for everyone.
“It’s not a nice situation for anyone. We had a chat and asked questions. He tried to answer them as best he could.”
Warburton will have no problem in earning a new job in the summer and O’Connor believes he has the ability to manage at the top level.
The Bees legend added: “I think he’s done very well last season. He’s done brilliantly this season. He treats the players really well and that’s the most important thing.
“He’s a very good coach and his man-management is good. He could go as far as he wants. He won’t struggle to get another job.
“It’s emotional and it will be at the end of the season because it hasn’t sunk in. You have to respect the owner’s decision.”
