Oh bugger.
This was my immediate reaction on Twitter, when news of Tony Pulis' departure from Crystal Palace was confirmed on Thursday night.
The reaction reflects two things. Most importantly, this is a terrible blow for the Eagles in so many ways – not least the timing and the fact Palace are losing one of the most tactically adept managers in the country and probably the best in the club's history.
Then, the football aside, there is the small matter (in the scheme of things I'm sure Tony is devastated) of Friday's Croydon Advertiser.
We went out on something of a limb or, rather as an editor, I did – ignoring advice to limit our season preview to eight pages to instead produce a bumper, 12-page guide to the new campaign.
We were up until the small hours compiling the supplement, neatly rounded off by a natty cartoon, portraying Mr Pulis alongside his cast of stars in a mocked-up poster for Pulis Academy 2 (geddit?)
All very satisfying, until the point where the main focus of this 12-page bonanza leaves the club before it has been seen by a single reader.
To see why the Pulis exit has rather peed on our Palace supplement bonfire, here is a rough idea of its contents:
Page 1 Tony Pulis-led cartoon
Page2 Steve Parish says 'I love Tony Pulis' (the irony…)
Page 3 Brede Hangeland says 'I love Tony Pulis'
Page 4 Julian Speroni quite likes that Tony Pulis bloke too
Page 5 Jason Puncheon… well, you get the picture
There is plenty of other material in the supplement, in fairness, and I hope you all still find it an enjoyable and informative read. Andrew Jameson's eight predictions for the new season comes especially recommended, though our very own Nostradamus didn't see this one coming did he?
But, as a newspaper editor, this evening has been a ruddy nightmare. Going to press roughly 20 hours before your paper hits the shops is bound to carry some element of risk.
But, after eight years as a news editor and editor, never have I felt quite such a proverbial custard pie in the face as I do right now.
