Dylan Kerr will leave Marumo Gallants after the club were relegated, iDiski Times has learnt.
After a 2023 filled with mixed emotions, Kerr was unable to save Gallants, who dropped to the bottom of the DStv Premriship on the final day of the season.
A 2-0 defeat to Swallows FC, Gallants dropped back into 16th place after finishing 2022/23 with 29 points from 30 games – just one behind Maritzburg United, who will now go into the relegation/promotion play-offs, and Chippa United – both finishing on 30 points.
Gallants, though, had a season to remember in the CAF Confederations Cup after reaching the semi-final, where they got knocked out by Tanzanian giants Young Africans SC.
Bahlaban Ba Ntwaa had a lot on their plate, with CAF fixtures mixed with local games since February.
Out of 22 games since Kerr joined the club after Dan Malesela was placed on “special leave”, Gallants won nine, picked up six draws and lost seven – including the last four, which ultimately sealed the fate for their season.
As a consequence, the decision was made that in a meeting on Thursday that Kerr won’t continue with the side, sources have told this publication.
Kerr himself confirmed to iDiski Times that he had made the decision to not remain with the club, and will be returning home to England on Monday to consider his options.
Kerr had become somewhat of a relegation-escape specialist after saving a team from the jaws of relegation four times, having done so with Black Leopards and Baroka in 2019 and 2020 respectively, before also helping Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (Marumo Gallants) in 2021/2021 season.
Last year, the Englishman helped Swallows to survive the relegation battle after steering them through the playoff route.
His job at Gallants was ultimately made a lot harder because he never received his work permit, and had to be in the stands for all their games, with Raymond Mdaka taking the reins on the sidelines.
