Melbourne Victory's A-League aspirations could go up in smoke after the club finally allowed title-winning captain Mark Milligan to walk out of the door.
Just a week after the A-League club's board voted to decline offers for the 32-year-old Socceroo from Saudi Arabia's Al-Ahli, Milligan has now been sold to the title-chasing club from Jeddah.
Money was the decisive factor - for both the club and the player.
A third bid well beyond the $300,000 offer that Victory originally resisted changed the club's approach.
And Milligan, in the twilight of his career, couldn't resist a pay-day from the cashed-up club, coached by Ukrainian legend Sergei Rebrov.
Coach Kevin Muscat lamented the club's hand being forced.
"We obviously did everything we could to keep him, but Mark was adamant this was an opportunity he wanted to take up," he said.
"It's a very disappointing outcome, but these things happen in football so we must move forward."
Six days ago, Muscat said "significant planning, time and effort went into building our squad for this season and Mark's signing was an integral part of that, so the club is not prepared to entertain offers for his services".
Milligan's departure will force a re-think in Victory's midfield.
Muscat brought the three-time World Cup attendee back to Melbourne in the hope of closing the gap to Sydney FC.
He slotted into midfield at the expense of Leigh Broxham, with hopes high that after seven wins in the last 12 matches, the triumvirate of Milligan, Carl Valeri and James Troisi was beginning to bear fruit.
Recent signing Terry Antonis is likely to step into his position in the short term.
But Victory also have an Asian Champions League campaign to think about, which begins in a fortnight, and will consider their options in the transfer market.
And they'll have cash to spend.
Reported figures for Milligan's transfer range between $500,000 and $1million, which would make it the second time in three years that Victory have banked a healthy profit from the star.
After captaining the club to the 2015 A-League premiership and championship double, Milligan was sold to UAE club Baniyas.
He returned to Victory this season after the Socceroos' fell agonisingly short of a world ranking that would have allowed him to bypass visa regulations and gain easier passage to his destination of choice; English football.
Should Victory go to the transfer market to replace Milligan, they won't be constrained by the salary cap given the Socceroo was on a marquee deal.
Milligan's decision to leave will boost his own bank balance, it does risk to his place in the Socceroos setup during a World Cup year.
