The fate of tech blog TechCrunch as well as Mike Arrington is in the air since the editor has been fired by AOL.

AOL fired Arrington after presenting him ultimatum around a week ago. The tussle began when Arrington announced that he was going to start an AOL-backed venture fund.

Many believe AOL will not be able to run TechCrunch efficiently without Arrington as he was Arrington who brought the tech blog at the place where it is now.

Speaking his mind on the issue, Fred Wilson said, “TechCrunch also has a voice, a swagger, a “fuck you” attitude that comes from Mike… They need to keep the remaining team, the voice, and that attitude if they want to remain at the top of the world of tech media.”

There is no dearth of those who are of the view that AOL should do everything possible to make Arrington stay with the blog as his departure would prompt a mass walk-out of writers.

If the large and deeply loyal audience departs from TechCrunch then AOL will be the biggest sufferer as AOL has acquired the tech blog for $30 million just to get hold of its large, loyal audience.