I always found it strange and could never understand why the original ECW Olympians and MCW Metrobuses were disposed of, without a decent lot of replacements already in situ.
It can't have been the case they were no longer reliable and had to be disposed of, because the ones which were sold on locally to the likes of Weardale and Classic, were still running a year or two later.
In fact, GNE had been short of deckers for a number of years prior to 2005 (disregarding the disposal of the Olympians and Metrobuses), because of the need had to have the Optare deckers on long term loan from Ensign...

Even in the weeks/months leading upto the Nottingham, Isle of Man, London, Ensign deckers arriving due to 'shortages' - GNE were getting rid of vehicles (including deckers) as if they were going out of fashion.

It seemed (and still does) a total contradiction to get rid of decent, reliable vehicles on one hand, yet scrabble about for others - which needed conversions, re-registrations, re-paints with the other hand.