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Spurs Make Bartlett Decision

Cape Town Spurs have announced the departure of Shaun Bartlett as head coach with immediate effect.

Bartlett’s last game in charge was on Saturday in the iKapa derby as they lost 3-1 to Cape Town City, and the club has yet to earn a point since promotion.

Bartlett survived just seven games in the top flight, after last season’s heroics that saw Spurs promoted from the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

The former Bafana Bafana striker joined Spurs back in October 2021, a few weeks after he parted ways from TS Galaxy, where he had served as Owen Da Gama’s assistant. But he was deemed surplus to requirements when Sead Ramovic replaced Da Gama.

It was a tough first season in Cape Town, as Spurs were at that point battling against relegation, they were 15th when Bartlett took over from Dylan Deane in the Championship, but they managed to survive the drop, and Bartlett’s contract was renewed.

It seemed to be a good fit. Bartlett had of course played for the original Spurs side back in the nineties before heading abroad.

Last season, with the addition of key experience, Spurs turned things around, and while they really should have won automatic promotion, they managed to get to the Premiership via the playoffs.

It was the second time Bartlett promoted a team, having done so with Golden Arrows in the 2014/2015 campaign. But on that occasion, Bartlett never got an opportunity to carry on in the top flight, as he was replaced by Serame Letsoaka.

Overall Bartlett was in charge for 65 games in all competitions, winning 26, drawing, 17, and losing 23.

Bartlett leaves, as does assistant Nasief Morris and goalkeeper coach Calvin Marlin.

On Saturday, Spurs announced Northern Irishman, Sean Connor, as Technical Director and the club are expected to announce a new coach in the coming week.

“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 Coaches contract with immediate effect,” Spurs statement read.

“The club wish to place on record our appreciation for Shaun’s work during his time at the club most significantly promoting the club back to the PSL.

“We recognise this is not an easy decision for all parties, but it has been taken with the club’s long-term interest at heart. Everyone at Cape Town Spurs wishes Shaun Bartlett all the best in his future coaching career.

“CEO Alexi Efstathiou and Technical Director Sean Connor have already begun the re-structure of the coaching set up at the club. A shortlist of candidates has been identified and an announcement is expected imminently.”

Later on Monday, Spurs confirmed that Vasili Manousakis had joined the club as an assistant coach, and would aid Connor, who would be acting coach for Wednesday’s match against SuperSport United.

Rob Delport
Rob Delport
Rob Delport is a walking football encyclopedia, having been a mainstay in the Cape Town football scene for years. Rob has previously worked for SABC and various websites and publications across Africa, as well as being the South African Head Researcher for Football Manager and doing a similar role occasionally for EA Sports FIFA. Highly respected, Rob is now a senior iDiski Times website and newspaper writer, and is also responsible for the newspaper's editorial.
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