Sunderland confirmed on Tuesday morning that Dan Neil would be leaving the club when his contract expires this summer

As news began to break of Dan Neil's imminent departure on Monday afternoon, there was one common question for Sunderland fans: Why on loan?

It is a slightly unusual way for a player to depart, a six-month loan deal that will then take him to the end of his contract on Wearside. And yet this was a slightly unusual departure, the end of an 18-year long association with a club that brought 200 senior appearances, three Wembley wins and two promotions. This one was always going to be a little bit different and rightly so.

The first thing to consider, though, is the slightly colder business reality of the situation. Clearly it would have been in Sunderland's interests to secure a permanent sale, but put yourself in the shoes of a club who would have an interest in signing Neil on a long-term deal. Why put in a big bid now, when he will be a free agent in a matter of months? To steal a march on your rivals, perhaps, but Sunderland were always realistic that major bids were unlikely having reached this juncture. For Neil, he joins a promotion push at a very ambitious club. Ipswich will control most games and in all likelihood win an awful lot of games between now and May - a strong platform for a midfielder like Neil to thrive. When this initial loan ends, he will be in a very strong position to consider his longer-term options and there will in all likelihood be a bigger and more varied range of clubs at the table. It would be wrong to assume that just because this is a loan deal, there will be no financial boost to Sunderland. Most loans in the modern game have a fee attached and there may well be some added incentives/bonuses built onto the deal based on performance. It's not the ideal outcome for Sunderland, but we shouldn't assume it's entirely without benefit.

Broadly, though, you feel that this fundamentally about acknowledging the right time to say goodbye and letting that be on the right terms for an extraordinary club servant. Neil's contract impasse has been handled respectfully over the last 18 months, largely absent of the kind of behind-closed-doors briefings that can be commonplace in football. Regardless of what was happening behind the scenes, that speaks to a significant level of respect between the two parties. We have seen time and time again under Kristjaan Speakman that Sunderland won't keep players against their will; showing that the club will be respectful and fair when it's time to move is a massive pillar of their recruitment policy and the reason why they have developed a strong track record in both recruiting and retaining young talent. That instinct is particularly relevant when it comes to a player like Neil, whose level of contribution to the club puts him in a very exclusive category. Neil has had opportunities to leave before, but stuck to his pledge to be part of the team that put Sunderland back where it belongs. It's only right that if Neil feels this is the right move for him now, Sunderland respect that.

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It's also the case that whether in part because of his contract situation or just purely for tactical reasons, Sunderland and Régis Le Bris have consistently avoided using Neil this season. Granit Xhaka's form has spoken for itself, but there have been other moments where Neil could have been used. Le Bris has consistently praised Neil for his application and attitude behind the scenes but his decision making this season made clear that there was no circumstance in which the 24-year-old would come into the side as a regular.

Far better, then, to shake hands and say thank you for the memories and the contribution. Both sides have an extraordinary opportunity to go on and thrive in the coming years, at the end of a partnership more fruitful than most in this game. Neil leaves Sunderland part of the fabric of its rich history, and always sure of a hero's welcome in future.

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