The Australian's editor in chief Chris Mitchell confirmed to online news outlet Crikey on Monday that he is indeed stepping down from the helm of Rupert Murdoch's favourite newspaper. 
In doing so, he boldly claimed that "as yet, there is no decision on a finish date or on my successor. I expect to have an ongoing role on the paper and with the company."
So he says. But it will be interesting to see if his plan to wield power beyond the grave actually eventuates. As John Hartigan (whose choice as his successor certainly wasn't Kim Williams - indeed it was Mitchell) found out the hard way, once you leave, you leave, and you hand back your protected species credentials when you collect your gold watch - or in Mitchell's case, a lovely piece of art Murdoch senior presented to him at a Holt Street reception in   August, in the least subtle nudge towards the News Corp exit since Col Allan turned up in 2012 to provide "additional editorial leadership" just weeks before Kim Jong-il bit the dust.
Tellingly, guess who Lachlan Murdoch (fresh off the plane from the US) had lunch with on Monday in a private room at Sydney's Rockpool Bar & Grill? None other than Daily Telegraph editor (and successor most likely) Paul "Boris" Whittaker. And so the circle turns...