Hughes decided to leave the club on Monday following a poor start to the new season.
“It is a real shock to me,” Wotherspoon said. “I thought he would be there for the long run.
“After the St Johnstone game, there was disappointment and upset, as there had been for the last six games or whatever.
“But there was no change in mood and nothing to indicate that this was going to happen so it came as a real surprise to me.
“The manager has had a huge impact on my career, he kickstarted it,” he added.
“I had just moved up to the U19s and he put me in to the first team. I wasn’t expecting such a quick start to my career.
“But he had faith in me and stuck with me and I really appreciate that.
“I don’t have a clue who the new manager will be, we will wait and see what happens.”
