The road to maturity has been paved with the departures of several players and the consumption of the less fit by the more fit.

They saw the departure of several players for the 2008-09 season, including Brand and Maggette, and acquired ten players.

The start of the 2012-13 season has been more inconsistent, due on part to the departure of such key players such as Tim Lyon.

In 2007, the Reptiles went through a period of restructuring, with the departure of several experienced players.

Others saw the pre-season departure of important players like Starek, Brungs and Blankenburg as the main issue.

The resulting penalties led to the departure of several players.

This decline in support was exacerbated in 2011, with the announcement of the departure of several notable players for the 2012 season.

The subsequent blame and public outcry to the firing of Houllier and departure of several players from the national team fold.

However, a lack of finances and fan support led to the departure of key players, leaving the club to rely on youth and reserve players.

"We have had to forecast down the road who we're going to lose and prepare for the departure of players a couple years in advance," he said.