Chelsea could yet do a U-turn and offer "last of the legends" John Terry a new contract, Jamie Redknapp believes.
Stamford Bridge's most decorated captain announced on Sunday he will leave at the end of the season after being told his deal will not be renewed.
Terry has accepted there will be "no fairytale ending" and plans to play on at a club outside England, but Chelsea did tell the 35-year-old "things could change" once a permanent successor to Jose Mourinho is named.
Sky Sports expert Redknapp said the decision is the latest sign that Chelsea lack "a lot of respect" for their great players but has not ruled out a change of heart.
He told Sky Sports News HQ: "He's the sort of guy that could have a fantastic run until the end of the season and they end up giving him a new contract at the end of the year.
"I still don't think it is the end of it yet, I still feel there could be a twist and turn in this one, you'd like to hope that Chelsea would see some sense and realise what this man still has to offer.
"I am surprised in one way, obviously because of what he can offer the football club, but in another way I am not.
"If you look at the way they dealt with Frank Lampard, Petr Cech, other players who have left the club, it's like they don't pay a lot of respect to their former players if you like.
"A little bit unlike what, say, Manchester United have done where they try to keep the likes of Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville as long as possible. Chelsea seem to go about it in a different approach: it's like the last of the legends, Lampard, Cech, Drogba, and now obviously Terry going at the end of the season.
"I'd be doing everything I could to keep hold of John Terry at my football club if I was the owner or manager. I think he's got so much to offer, not only the first team but whenever you go to the academy he's always the poster boy there. He's the last player they brought through if you like, that has become a regular in the first team.
"They're going to miss that authority he holds. He can also still do a job on the pitch. It seems to be a little bit strange to get rid of him or not offer him a contract because he's got so much to offer that football club.
"John Terry has been the best Premier League defender I've seen, the best centre-back I've ever played against. He's just been a warrior.
"Maybe they've spoken to the new manager and asked if he wanted to keep John Terry, maybe the new manager has said he wants to start afresh and bring in the players he wants, which is understandable.
"There's talk they may not want to hand out a new contract while they haven't got a full manager in place, which is strange because they gave Branislav Ivanovic a new deal a couple weeks back."