diff --git a/cylc/flow/task_pool.py b/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
index 79cc07f158..87009a00fd 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
@@ -2179,7 +2179,7 @@ def _force_trigger(self, itask: 'TaskProxy', on_resume: bool = False):
                 itask.state_reset(is_queued=True)
                 self.data_store_mgr.delta_task_state(itask)
 
-        elif self.task_queue_mgr.force_release_task(itask):
+        elif self.task_queue_mgr.remove_task(itask):
             # else release it from the queue to run now
             itask.state_reset(is_queued=False)
             self.data_store_mgr.delta_task_state(itask)
diff --git a/cylc/flow/task_queues/__init__.py b/cylc/flow/task_queues/__init__.py
index b6d2f8a824..f8c1672587 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/task_queues/__init__.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/task_queues/__init__.py
@@ -68,14 +68,6 @@ def remove_task(self, itask: 'TaskProxy') -> bool:
         """Try to remove a task from the queues. Return True if done."""
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    @abstractmethod
-    def force_release_task(self, itask: 'TaskProxy') -> bool:
-        """Remove a task from whichever queue it belongs to.
-
-        Return True if released, else False
-        """
-        raise NotImplementedError
-
     @abstractmethod
     def adopt_tasks(self, orphans: List[str]) -> None:
         """Adopt tasks with defs removed by scheduler reload or restart."""
diff --git a/cylc/flow/task_queues/independent.py b/cylc/flow/task_queues/independent.py
index fd904334c7..5cf2215918 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/task_queues/independent.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/task_queues/independent.py
@@ -151,13 +151,6 @@ def remove_task(self, itask: 'TaskProxy') -> bool:
         """Try to remove a task from the queues. Return True if done."""
         return any(queue.remove(itask) for queue in self.queues.values())
 
-    def force_release_task(self, itask: 'TaskProxy') -> bool:
-        """Remove a task from whichever queue it belongs to.
-
-        Return True if released, else False.
-        """
-        return self.remove_task(itask)
-
     def adopt_tasks(self, orphans: List[str]) -> None:
         """Adopt orphaned tasks to the default group."""
         self.queues[self.Q_DEFAULT].adopt(orphans)