Frank Lampard was railroaded as surely as the trains which still rumble along the old tracks behind the main stand at Stamford Bridge.
The German era was already dawning on Chelsea. At another hefty price.
Roman Abramovich does not sack managers with quite the frequency of that rusty stretch of the London Overground but the costs of keeping his unwanted livestock rolling out has to be just as expensive.
Even though the King's Road's favourite son goes for a bargain handshake.
Because the club had not yet triggered his new contract extension beyond the remaining six months of his old deal, Lampard collects £2million compensation rather than a projected £6million.