When news broke of Mickey Harte's departure as Derry manager, it was almost as shocking as when he was announced as the new boss last year.
On both occasions, everyone who was even slightly interested in the GAA, let out a slight gasp as the turbulent story of Derry football continues.
The rise, fall and now potential rise again is on the horizon for 2025, but amidst the ever changing world that is the Derry management team, both Oisin McConville and Aidan O'Shea took some time to stop and reflect on the news.
Despite all of the noise and publicity calling for the Tyrone man to step down, many were convinced that he would see out his three year contract.
Just last week McConville went on record saying that Harte would definitely be in charge next season, so he was more surprised than most.
"I'm shocked because you asked me the question last week and I said he'd definitely be there for another season," McConville said on The GAA Social.
"I didn't see it coming. Having gone to those lengths to appoint him, unless there's massive pressure from the players or from the inside, but I didn't see this happening at all."
O'Shea, whose championship campaign came to an end at the hands of Harte's Oakleafers, was also taken back by the news.
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"Little bit surprised", said the Mayo hero.
"The Mickey Harte that we have known over the last 20 odd years has come across as a defiant enough man, and not for moving too easily, so I didn't see that coming.
"Despite all of the noise, and obviously you would be a lot more familiar with that in terms of the neighbours up there and stuff like that, but yeah it is an interesting one.
"I did see some of the former Derry players, like Gerard O'Kane during the week (on the Puke Football Podcast), he got the feeling that Mickey's comments post the Kerry game, that it wasn't 'I'll be back in 2025', it was kind of left open for interpretation, so that might have been an insight.
"It's a strange one, and it was a strange one to start with, but they did win a National League he will say. I did think they put a lot of eggs in that basket, which is no mean feat, but probably to the detriment of them down the line.
"Obviously they beat us so I'm not having a go or anything like that but the team we played in the league was motoring seriously well vs the team we played in Castlebar, I didn't think they were as dangerous in terms of the game in possession.
"They were a lot more dangerous in the league game, I don't know what happened in that interim period, but whoever gets that job - it's a super attractive job, they have a serious bunch of players and based on the conveyor belt that's underneath them in terms of that minor success as well, the future is bright as well."
The Derry county board have confirmed that they have already began the search for their new manager, with the GAA Social panel all naming Rory Gallagher, Malachy O'Rourke and Damien McErlain as the main contenders.
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