Mark Robins has paid the price for Huddersfield Town's form during 2014 rather than one woeful result and performance to kick off the new campaign.
The 44-year-old, who was appointed successor to Simon Grayson at the John Smith's Stadium in February 2013, enabled the club to stay up via a last-day draw against Barnsley in his first few months at the helm and then started last season well.But a combination of injuries - most notably to leading scorer James Vaughan - and a drastic drop in form meant Town posted only six league wins from the turn of the year in 23 Championship attempts.
Saturday's loss against Bournemouth - at 4-0 Town's worst ever start to a Football League season - prompted an immediate meeting of the board and discussion with Robins, which led to his departure.
Those who have worked with him will confirm Robins is an honourable and honest man and this latest turn of events will have hurt him, just as Saturday's performance clearly did.
Fans were quick to voice their displeasure, one woman brandishing two season-tickets towards the Town dugout, while several fans made their way to the front of the main stand lower tier to shout towards Robins in the technical area.
A goal after 24 seconds knocked confidence from the off and further mistakes piled on the agony.
Robins started only two of his four summer signings - new skipper Lee Peltier and midfielder Radoslaw Majewski - while goalkeeper Joe Murphy and midfielder Conor Coady were on the bench.
Coady made his debut with 22 minutes left and caught the eye in difficult circumstances, but some supporters had earlier chanted "you don't know what you're doing" when Majewski was replaced by Joe Lolley on 57 minutes.
Robins has always given honest appraisals of his work and that of the team - and he will have done exactly the same to chairman-owner Dean Hoyle, chief executive Nigel Clibbens and the rest of the board in the wake of the opening-day debacle.
Robins, who previously worked at Rotherham, Barnsley and Coventry as boss, has been trying to bring through a passing style which Town are developing through the age groups at PPG Canalside and,ultimately, he will not be there to see the job through.
Town still have solid staff in place with all the coaching personnel working alongside new assistant manager Steve Thompson, and that should buy Town time to consider who the next permanent replacement will be.
But Adam Clayton's potential transfer remains in the pending box and, of course, the club have only until the end of the month to work on further new signings.
