Melbourne City have parted company with five senior-team players in addition to assistant coaches Luciano Trani and Ivan Jolic, while the future of some of their big-name trio up in the air.
Northern Ireland international Aaron Hughes is the highest profile player to be released yesterday, which also saw James Brown, Wade Dekker, Marc Marino and Jason Trifiro also walk out the exit door.
36-year-old Hughes will go down as one of the worst signings made by the club after making just six appearances over the course of the season, which was blighted by fitness troubles.
Despite his poor form down under, the Northern Ireland international is expected to be included in Michael O’Neill’s 23-man squad for the European Championships in France, having featured in friendly matches against Wales and Slovenia last month.
Attacking midfielder James Brown failed to find his best form in two injury-plagued years at City, with the former Olyroo only making one substitutes appearances this season.
Despite being impressive for the Gold Coast United in the 2011-12 A-League season, Brown may have exhausted his A-League opportunities after a previous failed stint at the Newcastle Jets and currently has 82 league appearances to his name, including 10 goals.
The 26-year-old is rumoured to already be in discussions with two unnamed NPL clubs and is good friends with current Bentleigh Greens duo Ross Archibald and Matt Thurtell although the Greens are said not to be one of the two clubs vying for his services.
Wade Dekker may have turned 22 last week but the club didn’t decide to give him a late birthday present by not renewing his contract.
The club’s 2015 NPL top goalscorer made a dream start to his senior career at City by scoring in their opening round 1-1 draw away to Sydney FC.
However, he found opportunities hard to come by from there onwards and made only four further appearances as injury also kept him on the sidelines for an extended period of time.
While he may attract the attention of other A-League clubs, Dekker could in the short-term head back to former club Northcote City, who are in desperate need of some frontline quality.
He made his senior debut for Hercules in 2012 under current manager Goran Lozanovski and went onto make 28 league appearances at City, scoring nine goals, with his younger brother Todd currently on the books of the club.
Marc Marino turns 20 tomorrow and was perhaps a surprise departure given the fact that he had worked his way back into fitness following a long-term injury lay-off.
The Adelaide-born striker made a total of nine league appearances for City over the course of his two seasons with the club, scoring two goals.
Jason Trifiro is the final player out the exit door after featuring seven times for the club after agreeing terms with the club late on in the off-season.
An Asian Champions League winner with the Western Sydney Wanders in 2014, the central midfielder was primarily used as a back-up option off the bench this term.
It is unclear whether the 2011 FFV Gold Medallist intends to stay in Victoria, returned home to Sydney or pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Assistant coaches Luciano Trani and Ivan Jolic have also had their contracts not renewed after two years of service for the club.
Trani’s previous experience involved assistant’s at the Wellington Phoenix, Adelaide United and Brisbane Roar respectively, winning the Championship with the latter in 2014 under Mike Mulvey.
He has also previously held a managerial position at the Fawkner Blues in the VPL, in addition to an advisory role he plays at Pascoe Vale, where he is good friends with manager Vitale Ferrante.
Jolic was primarily involved in overseeing much of training alongside Trani in addition to his role upstairs conducting analysis work.
The former NSL defender has previous experience in senior management with the then-Whittlesea Zebras and Clifton Hill in the top two tiers of Victorian football, as well as the elite youth state representative set-up at Darebin.
The departures of the five players and two coaches comes at a time of uncertainty at the club who also lost Socceroos defender Alex Wilkinson to Sydney FC on Tuesday.
Marquee man and current Socceroo Aaron Mooy is expected to head to Europe with England his preferred destination, which could bring an end to his time at City which has spawned 18 goals in 53 appearances and saw him yesterday named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Golden Boot winner Bruno Fornaroli was also named in the side, although is reportedly attracting interest from sister club New York City while also allegedly commanding a marquee salary.
Another City member of that PFA Team of the Year in French forward Harry Novillo has appeared to have played his last game for the club.
The 24-year-old has a year left on his contract but prefers a return to Europe so he can be closer with family, although has suggested that an elevation to a marquee spot might see him stay in the country– whether that be at City or at another A-League club.
Coming into the City playing roster for next season will be utility Manny Muscat who returns home after eight years at the Wellington Phoenix.
The 31-year-old former Maltese international made 192 appearances for the Kiwi outfit however the desire to return home prompted him to agree a two-year deal with City commencing next season.
Another rumoured target of the club is reportedly Central Coast Mariners teenage midfielder Liam Rose, who has attracted the eye of City Football Group scouts while some have suggested that the CFC might replace Mooy with former Brisbane Roar midfielder Luke Brattan whose European move has turned cold after failing to make any appearances for Championship strugglers Bolton Wanderers.
All in all, the departures of yesterday and potential star departures and arrivals will no doubt culminate in a very interesting off-season at Bundoora as the club looks to go better on its fourth-place finish this season.