It was a story which ultimately amounted to nothing yet still felt significant for the context it offered.
When Carlisle United parted ways with Mike Williamson last month, the fact that the club were anchored at the bottom of League Two didn’t prevent two of the most renowned names in British football being linked with the vacancy.
Mark Hughes and Steven Gerrard were apparently the only two horses in the race from the off.
Even though his days in charge of Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City were a distant memory, the Welshman got the nod.