While Ulster have been struggling this season, there was still a sense of shock when it was announced that Dan McFarland was set to leave the province with immediate effect.
The Englishman was in the midst of his sixth season in charge of the team, with many of those having been fairly successful ones. However, there had been a sense during the current campaign that the side was beginning to drift.
Ireland U20 coach will step into the head coaching role on an interim basis, although it remains to be seen who will take up the job on a full-time basis.
Whoever does come in, it seems that they will inherit and Ulster dressing room that has apparently been short on morale in recent times.
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Ex-Ireland star reveals Ulster issues under Dan McFarland
Ulster have some very talented players in their squad, meaning that they should be capable of performing to a much higher level than they have this season.
It seems that a their relationship with the previous coach may have played a part in that.
Speaking on RTÉ 2fm's Game On, former Ulster fullback Paddy Wallace said that there had been murmurings that the players in the dressing experienced a 'disconnect' with Dan McFarland and his coaching staff in recent times.
I'm still in touch with the game in Ulster and some former players, and some players who played under Dan.
With a squad of 30 to 40 players, there's always going to be players who don't get the game-time they want and there can be grumblings. That's just the nature of professional sport.
From what I've heard, there was probably a disconnect between players and the coaching staff. That just doesn't breed a culture that's going to be successful in the long-term.
There's always going to disappointed players but as long as they're fighting towards a culture or a goal that they feel inclusive in, the squad and the performances will thrive then.
It's whenever there's that disconnect between the management and the players, that's when the rot sets in. I've experienced that a few times in my career. Seemingly, that seems to the case in Ulster at this point in time.
Then you hear the grumblings from the fans, the pressure starts to arrive from all angles.
Ulster will be hoping that the head coaching change will reap some immediate benefits, although they will be more concerned with getting the permanent appointment right in order to bring the team to the next level.
Many see Jared Payne as an obvious candidate, with the ex-Ireland international having both playing and coaching experience at the province.
It will be interesting to see what decision they arrive at over the coming weeks and months.
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