Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport

Following Whittaker’s no-show on Wednesday, it was always a matter of when, rather than if, the forward would leave Argyle.

While the manner of his departure might not have been the greatest – turning up so late he was dropped from the team – you cannot argue with the impact he has had at the club.

Since he first joined on loan in the summer of 2022 he has scored 34 goals, including an amazing run of 15 goals in 22 appearances between September 2023 and January 2024.

But since then he has found the net just eight times as his goalscoring touch has mirrored Argyle’s fall down the table.

The club-record deal is huge for Plymouth, but what the Pilgrims do with that cash will be key.

Do they spend it now to try to keep a club six points from safety and without a win in 11 weeks up, or do they hang on and use it to rebuild in League One next year?