The departure of Chickelday has taken everyone by surprise after the Englishman was very influential in Orlando Pirates' well improved goal scoring form of late.

Before the loss to Mamelodi Sundowns over the weekend, Pirates had scored nine goals in their last three matches and the Chickelday's effect was starting to be seen felt and seen.

Orlando Pirates Legend Tebogo Moloi had already mentioned last week that the fans at Pirates should give Chickelday some time before already praising him and giving him his flowers.

"It is still early to shower Chickelday with praises and say he was the missing puzzle in the Pirates camp, let us give him time and allow him to do his job, after 5 games we will see what is he all about," Moloi said.

Chickelday who previously worked at Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers academy teams, expressed his gratitude to the Pirates faithful via his Twitter account.

"Not the result I wanted in my last game with Orlando Pirates, competed and dominated for 90 minutes to lose 1-0 against top of the table Mamelodi Sundowns, thanks to everyone involved with the club and to the fantastic supporters for making me so welcome! #OnceAlways #Upthebucs," he wrote on Twitter.

Now that Chickelday is gone, it will be interesting to see if Pirates will continue with their good goal scoring form or they will revert back to their routine of struggling to score goals with just about 10 DSTV Premiership matches to go.

The Buccaneers next play All Stars FC in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup on Saturday evening at the Bidvest Stadium.