There are some facts which will remain in house - such as just how hard the Steel worked to smooth Broughton's departure.
But what we do know is the experienced coach was keen to hold on to her job and the board was determined to make a change.
Broughton has gone to ground and was not returning calls yesterday, but her supporters are upset at the franchise's decision to advertise the position.
Broughton is a successful and loyal leader who has been credited with doing as much to lift the spirits in Southland as the dairy boom in the region.
She is the matriarch of netball in the deep south and, until last week, it was impossible to imagine an Invercargill-based team taking the court without her at the helm.
Her record is second to none.
She guided the Sting to seven titles in 10 years and built a reputation as one of the best coaches in the world. She simply is one of the most adored and successful personalities in the history of Southland sport.
But, if you read between the lines of the press releases and careful responses, it is clear the board had decided she had reached her use-by date.
The franchise was determined to move in a new direction and that included keeping its options open when it came to the coaching role.
Steel chief executive Julie Paterson told the Otago Daily Times it had been a very emotional week and acknowledged some mistakes had been made. Communication with Broughton had broken down, which was regrettable.
But she stuck by the decision to advertise the position and said the board needed to make some bold decisions to safeguard the franchise's future.
"It has been a very long and hard road and came out of a planning process which started in October last year," Paterson said.
"That is something we've really been at pains to point out. The planning process started well before the season started so it has nothing to do with this season's performance. And Robyn's experience and results speak for themselves. So it is not about past performance, it is about looking towards the future.
"The board took a lot of time to consider whether it would advertise the role. It has been rubber stamped for the last 14 years and the board just decided, from a succession planning perspective, it was time to open the job up."
It was also part of a sweeping review of the franchise to address a drop off in sponsorship, declining membership and falling gate takings.
The board took a "hard look" at itself and felt it had dropped the ball in some keys areas.
It had not worked hard enough on its profile in Dunedin and there was general consensus the franchise needed a greater presence in the city if it was going to grow.
"We have not done enough to nail that Sting to Steel transition," Paterson acknowledged.
"We were still working under a Sting model and we've had to take a good hard look at ourselves and think about how we operate in the future.'Broughton has been firm in her opinion the team needed to be based in Invercargill if she was going to get best results.
But that philosophy seemingly does not fit with the franchise's intention to expand its influence in Dunedin and can make recruiting players difficult.
Paterson said Broughton had been aware the board intended to advertise the position but the media got wind of the news and it turned into a "he said, she said" story.
"We tried really hard to manage the process with as much respect as we could. It was never our intent for there to be any unpleasantness. There was a lot of he said, she said and it does become very unpleasant."
Applications close on May 11.
It is unclear whether Broughton will apply yet or not. She is understood to be considering her options, which may include applying for the vacant Tactix job.
New Zealand under-21 coach Janine Southby, Steel assistant Jo Cunningham, former Australian international Natalie Avellino and former Steel assistant coach Marg Foster shape as the leading contenders.
Dame Lois Muir, New Zealand high performance director Tracey Fear and Steel board members Doreen Evans and Paterson will conduct the interviews on May 14.
