The Galway county board will begin the process of selecting a new hurling manager within the next fortnight after dispensing with the services of Ger Loughnane last night. Loughnane was sacked after delegates voted by 28 to 26 against him seeing out the final 12 months of a three-year term.
Loughnane, who was not present at last night's meeting where he was so narrowly voted out, was given the three-year term when he was appointed in 2006.
But having pronounced his intention to secure an All-Ireland title within two years, Loughnane conceded at the time that he would be unlikely to survive if he failed to deliver on that promise.
Confirming Loughnane's departure, Galway hurling board chairman Miko Ryan admitted there had been disappointment in the county that an All-Ireland final had not been reached.
"With this type of vote there has to be a loser and Ger was the loser tonight," he told RTE Radio after the meeting at the Raheen Woods Hotel.
"He (Loughnane) came in with wonderful ambitions to lift the Liam McCarthy for Galway and, genuinely, a lot of people in Galway believed he'd do it in the first year.
"And then when we failed, a lot of people believed he'd do it in the second year. But we didn't seem to progress at all."
Ryan has indicated that the Tribesmen will not be looking outside of Galway for the new man, adding: "We'd be better off staying within the county. That's my own opinion".
Michael Bond has already emerged as the early frontrunner for the post. The Galway native, who led Offaly to an All-Ireland tile a decade ago, has signalled his interest in the job and would bring a hugely popular team of Joe Cooney, Michael Coleman and Steve Mahon to the party.
And Portumna boss Jimmy Heverin, with two All-Ireland club titles under his belt, is another viable alternative.