In trying to deal with Dan Ashworth's sudden exit in as little detail as possible, Manchester United officials let it be known it had been a "difficult decision".
And yet in reality, it may have been relatively easy.
After all, BBC Sport has been told Ashworth had effectively been frozen out of the decision-making picture at Old Trafford, just five months after his arrival as sporting director.
His arrival came after the 53-year-old spent five months on gardening leave as United negotiated his exit from Newcastle, which eventually cost them between £2-3m pounds.
In February, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe told BBC Sport he believed Ashworth would be "very good for Manchester United", bemoaning Newcastle's negotiating tactic in keeping him to his contract.