Hibs decided to get rid of Milligan in the off-season after not taking up the option of a second year.

The Socceroo skipper impressed in Edinburgh in 2018/2019, making 31 appearances.

Maclaren was a teammate of Milligan's at Hibs and was shocked by the decision.

"I was very surprised Hibs let a player of Millsy’s quality go," he told The Edinburgh Evening News. "Sometime players want to go, but Millsy wanted to stay.

"Looking at the Hibs squad, the injuries they’ve had and the replacements they’ve got, I think Paul Heckingbottom will be scratching his head thinking, ‘Actually, I wish we still had Mark.’

"He was great for him last season - he played every game.

"Millsy’s experienced enough to deal with it but from somebody who was close to Millsy, he loved it at Hibs and was devastated to leave. It’s a sad situation."