A recruitment process which could only take place in the 21st century, played out in the poisonous court of social media.
On Thursday Wolverhampton Wanderers saw their second 'first-choice' to replace Bruno Lage brutally turn down their advances. But while there were extenuating circumstances surrounding Julen Lopetegui's rejection, Michael Beale's has angered a fanbase already close to boiling point.
Having taking QPR to the top of the Championship, it was believed a rapid promotion, just 15 games into his managerial career was a formality. Alas, the former Aston Villa coach has decided - somewhat admirably - to honour the arrangement he has at Loftus Road, despite the obvious lure of the top flight.
After news of rejection became public, Beale said: "Wolves is a fantastic football club, a historic football club. It was a privilege to be asked to speak to them, but I didn't think it was the right moment. I entered into an agreement here and integrity is a real big thing for me."
Many Wolves fans understand Beale's stance, in fact most will admire him for it. But for this to play out in public does little to stem the ire towards a hierarchy which is facing increasing scrutiny. For six years, since Fosun bought the club from Steve Morgan, Wolves fans have tolerated the unique working arrangement and the reliance on super agent Jorge Mendes.
After all, the man deemed the most powerful in world football has brought them talents beyond their wildest imagination, including the likes of Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and João Moutinho.
It has meant that detractors to the setup have often been swiped away, despite significant warnings from overseas, most notably Valencia. For while the good times lasted, oversights were afforded.
However, that good will is now in short supply after a managerial search which has veered from the calamitous to the comical in the three-week stretch since dismissing Lage.
That was a snap decision made in the light of a clear turning of the tide when it came to the supporters. Two weeks before his final game in charge, Wolves were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City at Molineux, a defeat which to many, had left the writing on the wall.
Had chairman Jeff Shi and technical director Scott Sellars pulled the lever then, they would have given themselves two weeks of breathing space. A fortnight to find a new coach with a rare break in the unrelenting fixture schedule.
Instead Wolves held their ground. That stay of execution divided fans and seemed to point to the idea that decision makers were willing to stick to their convictions of the summer.
But in the cold light of day, even those convictions were weak. It is understood that at the end of Lage’s first season in charge, Wolves were fluttering eyelashes at potential replacements and had they got a positive reaction, a change could have been made then.
That didn't happen and in response Wolves handed more than £100m to a manager who had lost the trust of those above him. Gone were the stalwarts of the previous regime, club captain Conor Coady allowed to join Everton, while Romain Saiss, Willy Boly and John Ruddy - all players from the promotion season in 2018, all dressing room leaders - were shown the door.
They were changes made with the auspices of ushering in a new era in the Black Country, but behind-the-scenes fingers hovered over the panic button. And when that big red button was pushed, the lack of foresight so many had feared was clear and present.
Since Fosun’s acquisition of the club, there have been five managerial recruitment drives. Two of these were thrown into chaos by a tunnel vision focused on Lopetegui. After rejecting Wolves in 2016, they turned to Walter Zenga - an appointment which lasted just a few months.
Paul Lambert then lasted less than a season, before Nuno Espirito Santo finally provided an element of stability. But that four-year stint is now appearing as the exception to the norm. Messrs Shi and Sellars have approached the current vacancy with a haphazard line of thinking which has been difficult to plot.
From Lopetegui to Rob Edwards, Rob Edwards to Nuno, Nuno to Peter Bosz and then Bosz to Beale. It has been difficult to establish the type of coach Wolves are after and that will hardly endear prospective candidates to taking on the role. Steve Davis and James Collins are now near-certainties to be in the dugout vs Leicester City in what already has all the hallmarks of a relegation six pointer.
In contrast, Brighton ’s chief executive Paul Barber admitted the braintrust at The Amex were already lining up a list of potential candidates for as and when Graham Potter departed. Roberto De Zerbi was quickly identified and while the Italian is still waiting for his first victory in charge, the joined-up thinking is clear for all to see.
In an interview with the club’s media team in 2021 Jeff Shi urged fans to “trust” the process. And their five-year track record meant that was extended. But ever since football paused for the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 Wolves have appeared a club in perpetual decline.
“Sometimes I fear the negativity throughout the fans will impact the staff inside the structure so I made a lot of efforts to talk to them: 'don't listen too much to the fans, focus on your job',” he added at the time.
Wolves appear to have gone back on that golden rule as they lurch to fresh public embarrassments on an almost daily basis. Before rejecting the approach from the Premier League club, Beale admitted it was a massive 24 hours for him.
Those making the decisions at Molineux now face a similarly pivotal period, with trust and optimism at an all-time low. There is no room for further mistakes, particularly with the on-field product doing little to stave off fears of relegation back to the league Beale’s QPR sit atop of.
