But Flood’s iconic Newcastle and England colleague Jonny Wilkinson was then dropped, before their club boss John Fletcher and the Falcons parted company.

Just for good measure, Flood is also facing up to the prospect of an operation - possibly at some stage this season – to rectify an ongoing knee cartilage issue.

Fletcher, Flood’s rugby mentor, exited Kingston Park while Falcons’ England contingent of Flood, Wilkinson, Jamie Noon and Mathew Tait were the best part of 300 miles away in Bath preparing to tackle Ireland.

The official club announcement was made yesterday afternoon, just 25 minutes after England head coach Brian Ashton revealed his team – minus Wilkinson – to face Ireland.

To say 22-year-old Flood is furious over events at Kingston Park would be a huge understatement. His emotions have been seriously stirred.

Flood said: “It has been one of the worst weeks in my life, I have to admit.

“To lose to Scotland and then find out a few days later about a guy who I have played rugby for since I was 11 years old and literally has followed me through my career, is just devastating.

“It is upsetting, and I know a lot of the guys at the club are very upset at what is going on.

“There is a huge kind of turmoil up there at the moment and a huge amount of anger.

“I think he (Fletcher) knew it was coming in the sense his relationship had broken down with the chairman.

“But we had no idea, and to find out was a huge shock.

“When you speak to a guy who has been a rock in your career, it suddenly gets very emotional down the phone when you speak to him.

“It is hard being down here with what is happening up there.

“It is going to be hard going back up later this weekend, and him not being around, but I will definitely stay in contact with him.”

Fletcher was a youth development officer when Flood’s rugby career first came under his direction, and there is unstinting admiration for him from the England star.

Flood added: “He was very much handed that squad and he was building it. The signings he made have been top-notch, and we were looking good.

“For anyone to lose their job is bad enough, but in a professional sport where there are such close links and the guy has been such a mentor to me, it’s even harder to take.

“I will know more when I get back home.

“I am guessing a little bit at the moment, but I know speaking to players this week there are a lot of upset people there.

“We are all quite worried by what is going on.”

In the meantime, Flood will focus on helping England try to sign off their Six Nations season by toppling an Ireland side similarly lacking form or consistency.

He will also have a new fly-half alongside him in the shape of 20-year-old Wasps prodigy Danny Cipriani.

Flood added: “I’ve not played alongside Danny before.

“These things can sometimes take time, but Danny is a very good player who has played well this season.

“It is a case of him just slotting in there really, and just bringing what he brings to the team.

“Danny has got all the exuberance of youth, you can see he has got that spark about him. He will try things off the cuff.”

Cipriani for Wilkinson represents the solitary change from events at Murrayfield, where England delivered arguably their worst performance in Six Nations history.

And Flood said: “Jonny has been one of the top players in England, and for him to be dropped it must have taken a long time for the coaches to say so.

“Brian has said he thinks his form has been inconsistent but, to be honest, you could say that about the whole team.

“I have been pleased with parts of my form and disappointed with others. Sometimes, I’ve found it very difficult to put my mark on the game, and it has been hugely frustrating.

“Overall, it has been good in parts, but I have been disappointed with other bits and pieces.

“I am fine to play this weekend, but more than likely I have got a bit of cartilage floating around my knee that’s loose, so it is probably going to be an operation some time soon.”