Subexponential algorithm for d-cluster edge deletion: Exception or rule?

We study the question of finding a set of at most k edges, whose removal makes the input n-vertex graph a disjoint union of s-clubs (graphs of diameter s). Komusiewicz and Uhlmann [DAM 2012] showed that CLUSTER EDGE DELETION (i.e., for the case of 1-clubs (cliques)), cannot be solved in time 2o(k)nO(1) unless the Exponential Time Hypothesis (ETH) fails. But, Fomin et al. [JCSS 2014] showed that if the number of cliques in the output graph is restricted to d, then the problem (d-CLUSTER EDGE DELETION) can be solved in time O(2O(dk)+m+n). We show that assuming ETH, there is no algorithm solving 2-CLUB CLUSTER EDGE DELETION in time 2o(k)nO(1). Further, we show that the same lower bound holds in the case of s-CLUB d-CLUSTER EDGE DELETION for any s≥2 and d≥2.