Down’s Martin Clarke is returning to Australia, according to team-mate Danny Hughes.
The claim comes at a bad time for Down football, following the Mourne men's crushing defeat to Cork in last weekend’s fourth round qualifier.
Clarke has already spent three years at Melbourne side Collingwood, and Hughes thinks the 23-year-old half-back will try his luck Down Under once again.
He said: “I think he will go back to Australia. And the best of luck to him if he can do it. Marty is a great fella, and he has given a lot to Down football so he doesn’t owe us anything."
Hughes added in the Irish Mirror: “If he can get a career for himself in Australia, that’s fantastic. But we are losing a big, big player.
“My opinion is that if he can get money for playing in Australia, well, who wouldn’t take it in this current climate?”
Hughes is also ruing the loss of 18-year-old Caolan Mooney to Collingwood, but is hopeful that manager James McCartan will remain in charge for the 2012 season.
He said: “James McCartan is a winner. He is a born man for football.
“I would be very surprised if James decided to walk away because I think he would see it as unfinished business.
“The fact that we went to an All-Ireland final and didn’t win it, and the fact that we were beaten so convincingly on Saturday.
“I’d think he will be looking to rectify that.”