Putting a lost season in perspective.

[volfannbama]

Would you buy a puppy and immediately put it down?

Or hire someone and before they can begin work immediately give them the option of resigning, getting fired, or retiring?

My wife got a puppy once, great dog. Sit in the back yard all day by herself. After two years of encouraging her and the kids to play with it (kids are in too many activites to own a pet) I found her a good home were they lady spends 24/7 with her.
Sad for wife and kids great for the dog. Some times grown folks have to make grown folk discussions even when they are difficult.
Noone is saying "put Butch down" like your puppy analogy we are just saying after 4 years its probably best for all involved to part ways.

Also not sure about your analogy of immediately forcing a newly hired worker to leave. If I owned a small business and had an employee that clearly wasnt getting the job done after FOUR YEAR, I wouldnt see the benefit in dragging out the inevitable.