Roy Keane and Manchester United have shocked the football world by announcing the Corkman has left the club with immediate effect.
After over 12 years at Old Trafford, the captain has left the club in typically dramatic fashion with RTE Radio reporting the player was effectively sacked after criticising fellow players in a recent television interview.
Separate reports have alleged that the 34-year-old walked away of his own accord, a furious row with manager Alex Ferguson prompting an untimely end to a glorious career in Salford.
The official statement from within the club, containing quotes from both Keane and Ferguson, suggests an amicable, if somewhat premature, end with the decision to terminate the former Republic of Ireland international's contract reached by "mutual consent".
"It has been a great honour and privilege to play for Manchester United for 12 years," Keane said in the statement. "Whilst it is a sad day for me to leave such a great club and manager I believe that the time has now come for me to move on.
"After so many years I will miss everyone at the club."
Ferguson, who had worked so closely with Keane until cracks in their relationship began to appear over the summer, was equally complimentary of his former captain.
"Roy Keane has been a fantastic servant for Manchester United," he said. "The best midfield player in the world of his generation, he is already one of the great figures in our club's illustrious history."
However, rumours emanating from Keane's native Cork paint a somewhat different picture. It has been reported that Keane made himself available for a reserve team match last night but was informed his services would not be required.
Upon contacting Ferguson, it is understood he was then informed he would also be stripped of his captaincy.
What happened next is open to conjecture but when it became clear Keane's situation was untenable, his representative, Michael Kennedy, met United chief executive David Gill at Old Trafford to thrash out details of his severance.
The fact that Keane trained with the rest of the squad this morning, just hours before the shock announcement was made, muddies the waters further, but whether he was pushed or jumped remains to be seen.
Keane's sudden departure evokes memories of Jaap Stam's exit in 2002. The Dutchman, then considered one of the best defenders in the world, was swiftly sold to Lazio after criticising Ferguson in an autobiography.
The announcement comes less than three weeks after Keane's amazing outburst at his team-mates during an MUTV interview so damning that it was deemed "unbroadcastable".
United manager Alex Ferguson was known to be furious at the timing and ferocity of the personal attacks contained within the interview and publicly rebuked his skipper prior to the win over Chelsea on November 6th.
A previous offer for a testimonial in recognition of the Irishman's 12-and-a-half years at Old Trafford has been confirmed in writing, but Keane will not be at the club in an official capacity if he decides to take the offer up.
The last of Keane's 326 league appearances for United came at Anfield in September when he broke his foot late in the goalless draw with Liverpool.
He is thought to be close to a return to action, although where it will be is now open to major debate.
Throughout his many triumphs at Old Trafford since his £3.75 million arrival from Nottingham Forest in 1993, probably his greatest performance came in the Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus in 1999 when he virtually singlehandedly rescued United from the brink of defeat to steer them into the final for the first time in 31 years.
His Herculean efforts came at a cost, though, as a booking picked up in the game meant he was suspended for the final, ensuring he missed United's greatest day in his time at the club.