The feverish speculation had only just finished when Anas Sarwar kick started it all back into life.
Admittedly, there will be far less clamour to find out who will be Scottish Labour’s depute leader compared to the conjecture about who takes the top job, but it could be a crucial role.
If Jim Murphy wins the leadership race, he will need a strong number two in Holyrood to handle affairs in Edinburgh until he finds a way into the Scottish Parliament. That includes, rather importantly, taking on a formidable Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister’s Questions.
Who fits the bill of being capable, bright and hard enough to fill that gap until Murphy could navigate his way north?
One who was immediately tipped was Dundee-based Jenny Marra. However, the North East Scotland MSP has ruled herself out in what was probably a very smart move given her co-chairing role in Murphy’s campaign. No one wants to be juggling too much campaigning, especially when you also have local issues and campaigns to focus on.
Another favourite is Kezia Dugdale. The former Harris Academy pupil has been rightly seen as a rising star since being elected onto the Lothians list in 2011 and now holds the shadow education brief.
She also managed to express an interest in the position before it had even been vacated. A sign of ambition or over confidence? Don’t expect it to count against her too much, especially given her popularity and campaigning capabilities.
One outsider who may be worthy of consideration is Cowdenbeath MSP Alex Rowley. He has experience of big jobs having run Fife Council and been Scottish Labour general secretary for a year.
Interestingly in the current context, he left the latter position after setting out proposals to give the party north of the border more freedom from London control.
Added to that, he is a voice of “traditional” Labour and a close ally of Gordon Brown. It is not clear if he’s interested but I wouldn’t bet against him just yet.
Aside from that, the likes of Drew Smith could be a contender as another of the up and coming new breed at Holyrood.
Would an MP fancy it? Perhaps, but that could cause the kind of “London Labour” branded meltdown the party will be keen to avoid.
More interesting times ahead.