A solemn Joe Cardle departed from East End Park for the final time last night and described the shambles which has befallen the Fife club as "scary and unacceptable".
The winger was one of several high-profile casualties of administrator Bryan Jackson, whose attempts to rescue Dunfermline have begun with a plethora of redundancies.
Under majority shareholder Gavin Masterton, the 128-year-old club now has debts of £8.5m.
"It's scary and unbelievable," Cardle said. "It's such a big club and the history the club has got – for this to happen to the boys is horrible, and it is totally unacceptable that it has got to this stage.
"I didn't see this coming at all. It was only the last week that I thought this was going to happen. It's happened now and I have to move on and look to my future. You just have to get on with it.
"As you can imagine it's not nice, especially because I've been at the club for four years and I've had great times here. But it's a new chapter in my life and I've got to move on."
Cardle does not hold out much hope of finding a new club before the March 31 deadline on Sunday and, after starting this season with high hopes of regaining a Clydesdale Bank Premier League berth, is now resigned to four months in the football wilderness.
"We were told there was going to be a meeting at four o'clock and I knew I was going to be one of the lot that had to go," conceded Cardle.
"I was expecting it, but it is a bit funny hearing your name being called out and being told that it is you on your way but it's part and parcel of what's been going on at the club for the last six months."
Dunfermline captain Jordan McMillan described the events as "horrible" after ending his 14-month association with the East End Park side.
"We were taken into a meeting and told what was going to happen," McMillan said. "The redundancy papers were put in front of us and it was just a matter of signing them. I am going to get my agent on to things and see where I go from here.
"But it is not a nice day, to be honest. It is horrible. Everyone has bills to pay, mortgages, kids, wives - so it is not easy but you have to get on with it."
The views of McMillan and Cardle were relatively tame compared to several former team-mates who were not made redundant, with emotions running high.
Stephen Husband, Callum Morris and Ryan Wallace were among the players who, despite body swerving the assembled press pack out-side the stadium, used social networking to have their say.
Masterton bore the brunt of the criticism from staff who believe he is responsible for broken promises as the Fife side descended into financial meltdown.
"Worst day of my career so far," said striker Wallace. "By the looks of it, there's more to come, lost some great players and lads today – all because of one man's doings."
Former Hearts midfielder Husband added: "Worst day I have had in football today. Lost great players, a lot of experience and more importantly great guys. Six months of hell!"
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