A leading Manchester United fans' group reacted angrily to news of Roy Keane's Old Trafford exit.
The chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association, Mark Longden, described the mutual parting of ways as "absolutely crazy" and expressed fears the season would now take a turn for the worse.
The future for Keane (34) remains unclear, but IMUSA chief Longden believes United have allowed the former club captain to leave at the wrong time.
"I'm absolutely staggered," Longden said. "We've been trying for years to replace Roy Keane and then we get rid of the one we've got in the middle of the season. It seems absolutely crazy to me.
"We've sold Nicky Butt, Eric Djemba-Djemba and other players who can fill the Roy Keane role. Phil Neville could play that role but he's now at Everton," he said.
"Now we get rid of Roy Keane without any sign of a replacement. How does that work? The season seems to be going from moderate to worse. He's up there. He's a legend, up there with Best, Robson, Cantona, Whiteside and that company."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has already admitted he would not be surprised to see Keane make a swift return in the Premiership.
Wenger said he was taken aback at the news but does not expect the announcement to mark the end of Keane's playing career. "It's a big surprise to let him go in the middle of the season," the Frenchman told BBC Radio Five Live.
"It looked like he was a bit upset recently. Why, I don't know. You must know what is going inside the club to judge that."
Wenger observed that Keane no longer has the physical attributes which made him a fearsome opponent in his late twenties but added: "He's still an influential (team) member when he plays and has a huge football brain."