After overseeing the draw that completed the season for Hampshire League champions Alton Town, John Robson dropped a bombshell by telling his players it was his last game as manager.
Robson has been headhunted by Winchester City and will take charge of this ambitious club's own drive for league honours next season.
Winchester, with money to burn thanks to their wealthy benefactors, have designs on the Jewson Wessex League and Dr Martens League beyond.
It is a reluctant departure for Robson who was approached by City as long as two months ago.
"Of course there was a lot of soul-searching," he told the Herald. "I have tremendous friends at Alton and I don't consider I am walking out on the club. I've done what I set out to achieve here and I don't think I can take Alton any further. I have to think about myself. Like anyone else, I'm ambitious and it's all happening at Winchester."
The fact is that Winchester have an admirable structure, plenty of players, and they get the crowds. Money-strapped Alton cannot hope to match their set-up and they will do well to hold their own in the Wessex League.
Robson, with his pedigree, was always going to be a target for an ambitious club.
He played for Kilmarnock and St Johnston in his native Scotland and then took his goal-scoring talents down south to Waterlooville, Basingstoke, Farnborough and Bognor Regis before moving into coaching.
He learned much from Alan Mullery at Southwick and Gerry Armstrong at Worthing, while also having spells at Petersfield and Andover.
He was appointed coach to Hampshire Under-18s in 1996 – a job he loved – and joined Alton Town as manager in 1999. Alton won the league, but lack of facilities held them back, and Robson left to have a less successful term at Ryman League club Camberley.
He returned to Alton this season and, by drawing on local talent and the club's own youth section, formed a squad good enough to hold off the challenge of East Cowes Victoria, Winchester City and Poole Town.
Alton won 31 of their 40 matches, but their success was perhaps down to a rock-solid defence. At one stage, Town kept eight successive clean sheets.
Apart from his coaching and tactical input, Robson instilled a tremendous team spirit in his small squad.
And when injuries threatened to undo Alton's good work, the manager used his contacts in the game to recruit Alton-born Colin Fielder and Mark Butler, both former Aldershot Town players, for the occasional game.
"Alton need financial backing, but they have players like Clive Ventham and Nicky Guy who can take the club on," said Robson.
The obvious question – is he going to take some of the Alton players with him. "I haven't seen all Winchester's players yet. But I certainly don't want to rifle this club."
Jim McKell, Alton's chairman, praised the outgoing manager. "John promised he would give Alton his best shot for two or three seasons and he's succeeded and got us promoted. He has done an excellent job.
"We wish him well at a club where obviously there is more finance available and sometimes that can lead to success," added the chairman, with the emphasis on 'sometimes', emphasising that Alton are in the Wessex League, whereas Winchester are not.
"In the meantime, I'm encouraged by the verbal show of support and commitment from the vast majority of the first-team squad.
"There will obviously be some changes of personnel, but we are looking forward to the challenge of the new league."
Alton, who recently had their Bass Sports ground approved by the Wessex League, will be in no hurry to appoint a successor. "We will look at all options," said Jim McKell. "We have experienced and sensible people at the club and it will be interesting to see what the post brings now we have got into the Wessex League."
Esso (Fawley) 1, Alton Town 1. Alton had already clinched the league title with their win at Liss Athletic in midweek. Saturday's match was a bit of an anticlimax, but Alton were playing for their pride and were in no mood to end the season on a losing note.
Town made some good scoring chances in the first half, but even Steve Poulton had left his shooting boots behind and it was Esso who snatched the lead from a rare attack.
The pattern continued in the second half. Dave Goss and Poulton were denied by an inspired goalkeeper, while Jamie Smith was twice unlucky not to win a penalty when he seemed to be pushed at corner-kicks.
With eight minutes left, Esso were finally denied the glory of beating the new champions when Robbie Savage set up Poulton who this time made no mistake.
Alton brought on young substitues Richard Mealey and Graham Francis, and Esso were hanging on at the finish.
Skipper Andy Sharratt received the championship trophy from league chairman John Moody, and then Alton's celebrations began ...
Liss Ath 0, Alton 1. Alton looked to be on course for a comfortable win at Liss last Wednesday after Jamie Smith headed them into a 29th minute lead. But substitute Robbie Savage let Alton in for a nervy finish after foolishly getting himself sent off, the lady referee taking a dim view of his colourful language.
However, Alton's reliable defence closed ranks and Liss never really looked saving the game.
Saints Old Pros v Alton
John Robson is organising a fund-raising match between Alton Town and Southampton Old Pros on Sunday, May 12, kick-off 11 am at the Bass Sports Ground. Peter Osgood and Jimmy Case are billed to appear and Gordon Strachan apparently fancies a 30-minute run-out. Proceeds will be divided between the Lord Mayor Treloar's College and Alton Town FC.