Matt Bloomfield had been looking forward to the new season with Oxford United. The plans were taking shape. The players were due back in soon. "And then life changed," Bloomfield tells Your Site.
"It was terribly disappointing. As a head coach, there is so much that is out of your control. You have to worry about what you can control and take pride in that." And there are things to be proud of.
While it is true that Oxford were relegated from the Championship, Bloomfield's own record after being appointed in January with the club one place off the bottom was impressive. During his 22 matches in charge, Oxford actually ranked as high as 14th in the table.
The mood after the final home game, a 4-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday, had been one of relative positivity. Bloomfield's efforts in trying to keep the club up seemed appreciated. An upturn in results had briefly offered hope of an unlikely survival.
"Everyone was really positive about what we had done in giving the place life by giving ourselves the chance to stay up."
Bloomfield knows the numbers. The fact that Oxford ultimately fell five points short of the total needed to stay in the Championship shows that it would have required top-half - almost play-off - form during the second half of the season. They could not quite do it.
Given that context, changing the mood around the club felt significant. "The feeling was really positive," he adds. "I felt a bond with the players and the supporters and was really excited about what was to come. I felt like we could really attack this season."
Speaking to Bloomfield, it is a window into the human side of football management. Not just the practical details. "We were looking at houses just south of the city. There were some beautiful villages where my wife was looking." But the emotional investment.
In his statement via the League Managers' Association following his exit, Bloomfield referenced the tragic passing of Amelia Aplin, a 15-year-old girl in Oxford's academy who had collapsed during a game. Such horrific events bring more than perspective.
"It almost knits you closer together to have to live through an experience like that," he explains. "The whole club got under my skin. The people really felt bonded to the place. What I found there was a really strong family club that the local community loves."
It is why he is foregoing any bitterness. "I have nothing but positive words to say about people around the club, the supporters, the players," says Bloomfield. "It usually takes a lot longer to build that rapport with people." But now it is time for him to move on.
"That is the life of a football manager. It hurt a lot and it did take me a little while to get over the thought of the opportunity that had passed me by. But if there is one thing you need in football it is resilience. Experiences like this certainly test that resilience."
For the first time since leaving school, he has been able to enjoy a proper summer break. There have been bike rides and days out, camping and theatre trips. He has watched cricket. He has spent time with his daughters. In a sense, it is payback time.
"I said to my girls, list all the things that you want to do because this is the one time I can say yes to them all. My family sacrifice so much so that I can live this life so we have ticked a lot off." But, tellingly, he does add: "I hope in future summers I will be working."
That is the key. Bloomfield has not been put off. He will not quite claim to be more determined - it is a quality that he has never lacked. "But I feel really energised and motivated to get back in. I certainly don't want to stew on this experience for too long."
There has been a shift in mindset. Bloomfield is back watching games, reading about leadership. He is looking for ways to improve, learning experiences planned and club visits, although he is keeping the details private. He sees this as a chance to reset.
The next opportunity needs to be the right one, tick some of the boxes that made Oxford so appealing. "I have it in my mind," he says. "But on the other hand, who knows? Football throws up these lovely surprises that you are not expecting from time to time."
For now, Bloomfield can enjoy the rare privilege of being able to say yes to his family without checking the fixture list first. Soon enough, however, another manager will find themselves under pressure and a very different phone call will be coming his way. He will be ready.
"I cannot wait for the next opportunity to arise."
