However, that is exactly what happened last Friday as Raith Rovers parted company with one of the most interesting characters to have graced Scottish football.

Andrews (32), whose devotion to preaching and faith healing made him a national icon, is expected to miss the beginning of next season as he recuperates from recent knee surgery.

After discussion between player and club an agreement was reached that the big defender terminate his contract, due to expire in October 2009, by mutual consent.

Given his status as the club's top earner, Andrews, whose signing talks involved Prime Minister Gordon Brown, was no longer financially viable, as chairman Dave Somerville explained.

"Given the financial position of the club it would be difficult if not impossible to run Marvin through his rehabilitation and give John McGlynn additional resources for a replacement," he said.

"It is a measure of the man that he was aware of the impact this would have on the team in a very important season for the club. Marvin recognised that both the financial and footballing risk in waiting for his return was not one a Second Division club could take.

"He is already working hard on the rehabilitation of his knee and we wish him every success in returning to the level he would want to be at."

McGlynn explained that releasing Andrews was a common sense decision.

"His size and power made him very intimidating for opposition strikers," the manager said. "He was unique and it's a blow to lose a player of Marvin's stature."

However, McGlynn may not seek a replacement centre-back, instead hinting that Iain Davidson could be lined up for permanent move to defence.

"Iain did particularly well in defence towards the end of last season," he said. "It's not a foregone conclusion that Marvin leaving means we need a new centre-back."

Andrews' departure will not mean a significant increase in the money available to McGlynn as only 50 per cent of the defender's wages were paid for out of the playing budget.

The original agreement was that unnamed local businessman would fund the other half, however, SportsPress understands that this contribution dwindled leaving the board to juggle finances in order to meet Marvin's wage costs.