Cape Town Spurs have bid farewell to their head coach, Shaun Bartlett, following a string of disastrous performances in the DStv Premiership.
The Urban Warriors, who had high hopes for the season, have instead endured a nightmare start, with seven consecutive defeats in their first seven matches, leaving them at the rock bottom of the league table.
They most recently suffered a 3-1 defeat to rivals Cape Town City after taking an early lead for the second time in two games.
The official announcement of Bartlett’s departure came via the club’s social media channels on a sombre Monday morning. The club, in a concise statement, detailed the decision reached through mutual agreement after extensive discussions and a thorough review of the team’s current dismal run.
“Following an extensive review and discussions with Shaun Bartlett and taking into consideration the current set of results, we have mutually agreed to the termination of the Head Coach’s contract with immediate effect,” the statement read.
Despite the disappointment of parting ways with Bartlett, the club expressed gratitude for his contributions during his tenure, particularly his role in elevating the club back to the top flight. The decision to make this tough call was not taken lightly, but it was made with the club’s long-term interests in mind.
“Everyone at Cape Town Spurs wishes Shaun Bartlett all the best in his future coaching career,” the statement continued.
With Bartlett’s exit, CEO Alexi Efstathiou and technical director Sean Connor have wasted no time in initiating a restructure of the coaching setup at the club. They have swiftly identified a shortlist of candidates to fill the vacant coaching position, with an official announcement expected in the near future.
This turn of events leaves Cape Town Spurs in a state of flux as they seek to regain their footing in the DStv Premiership. The departure of a coach mid-season is never an easy situation for any club, and it remains to be seen how the team will respond to this significant change.