Yes, indeed. The pressure of the last couple of years in...

Yes, indeed. The pressure of the last couple of years in particular will have been intense but he doesn't strike me as a quitter - not now. Not with a maiden interim profit, rising prices, and an expansion plan to deliver. Not with the tarnish of the guidance downgrade and a short attack in full swing. I think he would be looking to eventually go out on a high and the highs are not that far away.

I don't think the board will have ousted him. Certainly not without a suitable replacement and I don't see one in the wings - no one from within and not easy to find the right experience from outside. And if they were to do so, would they not have done that some long time ago rather than when this is in the home straight?

I don't think the instos are a big factor - there are no large sticky cornerstone holders to wield that level of influence. On the contrary, there are far too many nominees and parties willing to lend scrip to shorters.

Might the Japanese have wielded some influence? Perhaps, but that would be quite extraordinary to exercise influence in the JV partner as opposed to the JV vehicle. No, I don't think so.

If he has gone, I for one will be very disappointed. I think he has been a steady pair of hands through challenging times, and now is not the right time to go. Fronting for a listed company is not for the faint hearted, especially when it is a start up that is growing up in public and going through something of a troubled adolescence. A year or two from now this will be a very different picture and I hope Richard is still on board to enjoy it.

I'm hoping that we get to read a "don't believe the social media rumours" announcement tomorrow and that Joe gets to read a letter from Richard/ORE's legal counsel...