Morgan Whittaker: Swansea City boss praises ex-striker's attitude in Plymouth Argyle switch
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Striker Morgan Whittaker scored nine goals for Plymouth last season to help them gain promotion from League One while on loan from Swansea
Michael Duff has revealed how striker Morgan Whittaker asked to leave Swansea City on his first day as head coach.
Whittaker failed to get regular first-team football under previous Swansea boss Russell Martin and Plymouth Argyle paid a club record £1m fee for him following a successful loan spell.
The 22-year-old has played every game this season for the Pilgrims, who host Swansea on Saturday.
Duff says Whittaker was "honest" about his intent to leave the club.
The current Swansea head coach paid tribute to the way the striker approached the issue, even though it meant losing him.
"I had a meeting with the players on my very first morning at the football club, introduced myself and the staff, the usual, standard, welcome-day meeting," said Duff.
"Morgan then followed me up to the office, knocked on my door and said, 'I want to leave'.
"He didn't kick off, he said, 'it's nothing to do with you'. I don't know what had gone on previously and it's none of my business, but he made it quite clear he didn't want to be here and there are certain things I do now know, but I'm not prepared to get into that.
"He's moved on, we wish him all the best, apart from Saturday."
Whittaker was the subject of rejected bids from Scottish giants Rangers last season and had asked not to be involved in a game against Queens Park Rangers for not being in the right frame of mind.
"It happens in football. Sometimes it just doesn't work out at the football club," Duff said.
"Things had gone on previous to me that basically meant he didn't want to be at the football club anymore, but he's a boy of good ability, people would've seen that.
"He seems to have found a home in Plymouth, whether that was going on in the background I don't know, I wasn't privy to that, but he dealt with it properly.
"He didn't refuse to train or demand to go on the transfer list or anything like that.
"He had an honest conversation with me, told me where he is at, and then the clubs came to an agreement."
Whittaker has started nine of Plymouth's league games this season, coming off the bench in the Pilgrims' other match on their return to the Championship.
He has scored four goals including a hat-trick in September's 6-2 win against Norwich City.