When 888 took over from Briggs Ford supported Dane by placing the team on the same level deal as they had just offered SBR who were champions at the time, and who had just used rumors about an approach from Mitsubishi to screw more money out of Ford themselves.
This was despite Briggs having done nothing to prove that they could be competitive, and 888 having shown only that they could take existing cars, make fragile suspension uprights and park cars in bad places on the mountain.
Of course Dane's actions from there are well documented, trying to secure Ambrose & failing so taking Lowndes, before poaching Little from SBR.
Its unfortunate that Dane could not show the same level of support in reverse when at a time that Ford globally was clarly struggling, they had to cut the budget. Instead he jumped ship to a brand which is generally accepted to be struggling more than Ford was, it wasn't a move based on stability, it was based out of spite.
Dane will get his own, Walkishaw will obviously be wounded by the fact that Holden had to poach another team to be competitive and will fight like hell to get HRT back up to the top of the Holden tree, and as we have seen before - bugger anybody else running the same equipment.
Once Walkinshaw achieves this Dane will be dropped quick smart and isn't likely to be warmly welcomed by Ford or any other manufacturer at that time.
I just hope that with the COT around the corner, that Ford & their teams will be able to work together and overcome the loss of the considerable abilities of 888 and develop a competitive package together.