The AFL will move swiftly on Mark Evans' replacement as their football operations boss, with Simon Lethlean the obvious favourite.
How the league deals with Evans' sudden departure to Gold Coast is expected to be known by the end of the week.
It is no surprise that Evans has moved from running the AFL football department to becoming a club chief executive.
But the widespread speculation was that he would return to Hawthorn, where Evans had worked as football manager before his successful tenure at the AFL.
The Hawks are hunting for a new CEO after Stuart Fox left to take over from Stephen Gough as the head of the Melbourne Cricket Club.
While Tuesday's news was a surprise to many at the AFL, Evans obviously has headed north with the league's blessing.
Indeed, Suns chairman Tony Cochrane said they lobbied hard for Evans to join them, rather than the league planting him.
"We wish him every success - he's made an outstanding contribution to the AFL in his four years," said AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan.
"(This) was something Mark was keen to do in the next stage of his development."
Lethlean is the league's development manager and he has overseen the success of the inaugural women's league.
He is the obvious choice to take over running their football department, either short-term or permanently.
Plenty of club officials will also put their hands up for one of the most important jobs in football.
Now that Evans has gone to Gold Coast, the AFL website also speculated that Fremantle chief executive Steve Rosich might be the man to take over at Hawthorn.
The new boss will take over at a critical time for the Hawks, who are planning a move to a much bigger facility at outer-suburban Dingley.
On the field, coach Alastair Clarkson's four-premiership era is at an uncertain stage.
The common speculation is that the Hawks might come off the boil this season.
Clarkson stunned the league after last season by trading out veterans Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis.
They also brought in high-profile recruits Jaeger O'Meara, Tom Mitchell and Ty Vickery.
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