Axed South Sydney star Adam MacDougall has hit back at claims from the Rabbitohs that he was released from the last two months of his contract because he did not fit in with the NRL club's "culture".

MacDougall said he believes his axing on Tuesday was personal and stemmed from his and brother Luke MacDougall's decision not to re-sign with the club beyond this season.

"I can't help but feel it's become a little bit personal," MacDougall told Channel Nine's NRL Footy Show.

"I went to Souths with the right intentions ... all I can say to the fans is I hope you enjoyed me playing for Souths. I always gave 100 per cent.

"Russell Crowe owns the club, he sat me and Luke down (earlier in the season) and asked us if we wanted to stay.

"No disrespect, we said we wanted to move on ... from that day onwards I must admit Russell did not talk to me anymore, we didn't share the same relationship we had, we used to speak pretty regularly before that.

"I don't hold that against him ... I'm just disappointed that my character's been attacked and everything I've achieved in the game has been overshadowed by the rumours and stories that go around.

"It's pretty nasty and I feel for my wife and family."

Souths executive chairman Peter Holmes a Court claimed full responsibility for having MacDougall finish his tenure at the club early, saying the decision had come with the full support of the club's management, coaching staff and senior playing group.

MacDougall, who was fined $10,000 and handed a one-match suspension earlier in the season for criticising teammates after a heavy loss against Wests Tigers, was told by club chief executive Shane Richardson on Tuesday he would be paid out for the remainder of the season.

"I am disappointed now that it has come out a bit different in the press (than after that meeting with Richardson)," MacDougall said.

"I'm the sort of person that calls a spade a spade. I'm a man's man, so if you look someone in the eye and tell them one thing and go behind their back and say it's for a cultural reasons, or whatever it may have been, it's disappointing.

"If people have got an axe to grind what can you do.

"The players have been great, that is the most hurtful thing ... I think it's in bad taste and disappointing for the club.

"They had nothing to do with it. The players know, they've rung me and spoken to me."

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