Swindon Town fans are already worried about the future without Paul Sturrock, as they don't believe replacements will be attracted to the County Ground.
The Scot has been granted permission by the Robins to talk to former club Plymouth Argyle about their vacant managers job and is believed to have said his goodbyes to the players this afternoon.
But Andrew Hounsell, vice chairman of TrustSTFC, says the continuing takeover by Andrew Fitton and transfer embargo on the club is guaranteed to put prospective candidates off.
"I don't see any high calibre manager wanting to come to Swindon when they could end up with a ten point deduction in their first week," he said.
"I think we'll be in a holding period until the takeover is done and I can't see someone being appointed unless the new board and the old board agree on someone.
"But, in all honesty, the takeover has got to be completed first."
Hounsell also believes the board have been the architects of Sturrock departure and given him an easy decision.
"We don't blame him," said Hounsell. "It's disappointing but not a surprise and was always going to take the first decent offer he got.
"Why would he stay with the transfer embargo, we don't even know if the club are going to be here by the end of the year.
"If I was him I would have been half way down the M5 on Saturday. He's had an easy choice."
Gazette columnist and Swindon fan, Dave Wallis, agreed, adding: "The board do not look like they were being pro-active about keeping him.
"It is the same resignation from the board the fans have. They are resigned to the fact we're going to lose him and it is a question of how much money they can get.
"He might have been told about the takeover still being up in the air. If he knew it was going through then it might have twisted his arm. But equally if it wasn't it would have made his decision easier."
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