In what is at least somewhat of a surprise move (at least to me), Jio Fontan has been granted his conditional release from Fordham.

After a published report had stated Fontan spoke to Dereck Whittenburg at Wednesday’s practice and stated his intention to leave the program – one he had originally had over the summer – Fordham responded to the news by firing Whittenburg Thursday, and installing the man who recruited him, Jared Grasso, as the new head coach.

My thoughts at the time were that Fontan would then reconsider and at least stick out the season, but it appears that isn’t the case. Multiple outlets have reported Fontan was granted his conditional release by athletic director Frank McLaughlin, a move McLaughlin told The Post he would make last week if asked by Fontan.

As I reported at the time, this was a departure from the university’s stance last summer, when the refused to let the former St. Anthony’s standout leave. But McLaughlin said they simply wanted Fontan to give them a chance, and he did that.

Now it’s back to square one for the Rams, who didn’t look much different, at least according to the box score, in Saturday’s blowout loss at Rose Hill to Bowling Green. Without their point guard and leading scorer, it’s going to be awfully tough for Grasso, now the youngest head coach in Division I, to improve on the team’s dismal start.

tbontemps@nypost.com