Exactly. If he had just come out and said something along the lines of how Motherwell had rekindled his appetite for the game, how grateful he was for that, and an opportunity has come up that he never envisioned that he'd like to take a shot at before he retires etc. he would have been golden.
A number of fans, including myself, aren't too disappointed to see him go. Just annoyed at the way he dealt with it. A bit like the difference between the Faddy and Pearo exits.