HARDLY 24 hours after Maritzburg United parted ways with their coach Clive Barker yesterday, rumours started flying that Farook Kadodia’s club have set their sights on jobless Clinton Larsen.
Larsen quit at Bloemfontein Celtic last week and could be replaced by Kosta Papic, who is currently on the payroll of National First Division side Black Leopards.
Also linked to the Maritzburg job is Free State Stars’ Ernst Middendorp, even though his club boss Rantsi Mokoena has poured cold water on the allegations.
Larsen told SunSport yesterday that he knew nothing about the Maritzburg job: “My agent hasn’t told me anything about a possible offer. In any case, I don’t want to rush into any job at this stage. I plan on being thorough and careful on my next assignment, whether at Maritzburg or anywhere else.
“I will look into the available squad and the people around me. When I rush into assignments I often find half the squad unavailable due to injury. Such things affect your record as a coach and I don’t want it to happen again.”
Mokoena said: “As far as we know Ernst is still our coach. Nobody has approached us for his services. In fact, the coach has just finished conducting training with the boys.”
If Maritzburg can persuade Middendorp, it will be the coach’s third stint with them.
Kadodia told SunSport that they had to relieve Barker of his duties as part of long-term plans for the club. “Results were not coming,” he said. “Five points from 11 matches is not good enough. We had no guarantees that Barker’s promises would pay dividends. I wanted a strategy that would work. It is a daunting task but I’m sure we’ll get the right person for the job.”
Kadodia said Barker couldn’t cope with the pressure. “We have other options and will take advantage of them,” he said.
“There is only one match left before the year ends and it will be unfair to get a coach to take over for one match.”
Fadlu Davids, the club’s assistant coach, will take over temporarily and lead the Team of Choice against Platinum Stars at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on 20 December.
A statement by the club says Barker has put the interests of the club ahead of his own. Barker said: “I think the club is on track to turn things around. A special thanks to Fadlu Davids, he is one of the finest assistant coaches I have worked with. Thanks to everybody for a pleasant stay. I wish the club well.”
