Less than a year after his appointment, the Stephen Glass experiment at Aberdeen is officially over.
Saturday's Scottish Cup exit at the hands of Motherwell compounded the dreadful league form that sees them sit ninth in the table after 25 games.
And it was a step too far for chairman Dave Cormack who did a U-turn on his firm defence of Glass and gave him his marching orders on Sunday morning.
It sends Aberdeen back to square one but where one door closes, another door opens.
The Dons are looking for an interim appointment to tide them over as they consider their long-term options.
And while it might have to wait until the summer before a new permanent boss is installed, there are some interesting options out there to consider.
Will it be a safe appointment, will they promote from within, or will it be another ambitious left-field pick?
Record Sport have run the rule over eight names who could be in the running.
Scott Brown
It's the obvious suggestion but one that can't be overlooked.
Brown is the only one of the previous coaching set-up to remain at the club with Allan Russell and Henry Apaloo also on their way out.
Chairman Cormack wants him to stay on although he's set to be overlooked for the interim job in favour of pathways manager Neil Simpson.
His loyalties to Glass, a close friend and former teammate of Brown's who played a big part in convincing him to come to Pittodrie, may also complicate matters.
But Brown is highly thought of as a coach at Aberdeen and if he puts himself forward as a serious candidate then they may consider him come the summer.
Jim Goodwin
Perhaps the most promising coach of the bunch in the Premiership at present, Goodwin's St Mirren are flying again after a patchy start to the season.
Since a 4-1 defeat to the Dons back in December, they've flown up the standings and leapt into the top six during the week - three points ahead of the Pittodrie side.
He's made Saints a tough nut to crack - only Celtic and Rangers have lost fewer Premiership games this season.
And that could appeal to Aberdeen as they look to arrest their slump and get back to where they were a couple of years ago.
Raphael Wicky
MLS imports into the SPFL are becoming more and more common and it's likely chairman Cormack will at least consider another stateside arrival in his hunt for a new boss.
Swiss boss Wicky is a free agent after leaving Chicago Fire in September and comes with an impressive track record.
Like Glass, he has a reputation for nurturing young talent and coached the United States' U17s before joining Fire in the top flight.
He cut his teeth coaching Basel's youth teams before he was handed the top job in 2017 - winning a league and cup double in his native Switzerland.
But his reputation has taken a dunt after his sacking from Chicago so the Pittodrie job could give him a chance to work his way back up.
Neil Lennon
Lennon's history at Celtic means he wouldn't be many fans' first choice but love him or loathe him, his CV rules him in.
He's been vocal about his desire to get back into management after more than a year out and there can be no doubt he'll be putting his name forward once the applications open.
Speaking about links to the Sunderland job - which now looks set to go to Alex Neil - Lennon previously said: "I'm only 50 and I've still got the hunger.
"I don't want to talk myself up but I still feel there's plenty to offer.
"I've enjoyed my time away but you get the itch. You're a certain kind of competitive animal and that competitiveness stays with you.
"I would like to get back in."
Grant McCann
Another name who was firmly in the running for the Sunderland job, McCann is out of work after Hull City's new owners decided to change direction last month.
Most fans were in agreement that was a wild decision. The Northern Irishman stayed on following their relegation to League One, helped them bounce back into the Championship at the first time of asking.
He had them ten points clear of the drop zone and was dismissed just days after beating Blackburn and Bournemouth back-to-back to arrest a slump in form.
He'll be looking to get straight back into it and is likely to be a frontrunner for virtually any English job that opens outside of the Premier League.
He's one that may not even be available come the summer so if the Dons want him, they'll have to move fast.
Callum Davidson
His stock isn't quite what it was in the summer but Davidson's name still holds plenty of weight.
His cup double with St Johnstone last season was one of the greatest accomplishments in Scottish football history and will likely keep him in the frame for a multitude of big jobs regardless of how Saints finish the season.
It's been a tough one for them this term and they are currently rock bottom - two points from the playoff spot.
That being the case it's likely he will be keen to see it out and help them stay up before considering his options come the summer.
And if he can mastermind a great escape then that would make him an even more attractive option to the Dons if they are still looking by then.
Paul Lambert
Former Scotland midfielder Lambert hasn't been out of work long after his tenure at Ipswich came to an end but he rarely waits long before getting back into work.
Curiously he hasn't managed in Scotland since leaving Livingston in 2006 but it's something he would likely consider - especially for a job as big as Aberdeen.
An experienced campaigner, there's an air of a steady-the-ship appointment about this one and it would represent a sharp change in direction from the Glass project.
But he's proven to be a good coach even if his recent record hasn't been spectacular and Aberdeen could give him a welcome change of pace from the slog of lower league English football.
Jack Ross
The early bookies' favourite for the job, Ross hasn't long left Hibs and will likely be eyeing the chance to jump straight back in at a top Premiership club.
A poor run at Hibs led to his sacking but it can't be overlooked that Ross took over a desperately struggling side and within 18 months had them third place and in Europe.
An inability to win the big cup games might ring alarm bells for Aberdeen but the rapid turnaround Ross oversaw at Easter Road will certainly tick a box.
They need that kind of revival as they look to recover from the short-lived Glass project and while Ross may not be the most popular choice, he'll be in the running.
