The point, as you put it, was to protect the club's interests.
It doesn't matter what situation we were in, that was Speakman's job. He allowed a flimsy contract situation to endure. It was almost bound to come to this given what we now know, and yet we don't look prepared. Possibly even because he didn't want to deal with it decisively. Possibly because he didnt rate Neil.
But it is on him. He is the man in charge of all these things.
And we currently have ;
No first team manager.
No U23 manager.
No Academy manager.
He's not doing his job properly, and it doesn't matter what enyone thinks of Neil, that is still the case. Apart from recruitment, at which he clearly excells, chaos follows this bloke around.