Cape Town Spurs have announced that Vladislav Heric has left the club with immediate effect.
Heric was appointed at the start of this season, but Spurs have had a terrible start to the Glad Africa Championship season, and are currently bottom of the table without a win.
Unfortunately he also missed the last two games as he had to go into quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19, along with a large number of other players and staff at the club.
It was not certain when he would return, and with results going the wrong way, the club made their decision.
Ian Taylor will lead in the club in the interim, with Nathan Paulse assisting.
“Government has given the NSL the privilege to continue to play out our season,” said Cape Town Spurs CEO Alexi Efstathiou.
“With this privilege, comes a responsibility to the wider society, a responsibility that we, as a club, do not take lightly. We will continue to follow the NSL’s protocols regarding Covid-19 and do the best we can under the circumstances.
“We believe that the NSL is constantly monitoring the situation with all the teams, both DStv Premiership and GladAfrica Championship, ensuring that everyone follows their protocols.
“The NSL is also aware that it is critical for the credibility of both leagues, that all teams maintain the standard of safety at all times. The current situation is forcing teams to make unprecedented decisions on and off the field.
“We are comforted to know that the NSL ensures that there is ‘fair play’ all round, from all the teams, in order to maintain the integrity of the leagues.
“We wish Coach Vlad a speedy recovery,” Efstathiou added.
The club were re-named Cape Town Spurs at the start of this season, after formerly being known as Ajax Cape Town. Their partnership ended with Ajax Amsterdam at the end of last season.
Heric was appointed after the contracts of interim coaches Calvin Marlin and Dylan Deane had come to an end. Deane is now Head Coach of Cape Town All Stars, while Marlin is the goalkeeper coach there.
Having taken Ajax into a comfortable lead at the top of the league, the wheels came off for the pair in the bio-bubble, and they threw away that lead which saw Swallows overtake them and win the league, on a goal difference of one. Ajax also failed to win promotion in the play-offs.
Marlin and Deane had been in charge of Ajax from January 2020, after Dutchman Andries Ulderink resigned, in solidarity with the suspended Head of Youth and Technical Director Hans Vonk. Vonk also later resigned.
However it should be noted that Ulderink was going to leave the club at the end of 2019/2020 season, having already stated he wanted to return to Holland.
Now in 16th place in the league, three points off their nearest opponents, and with the team heavy-hit by Covid-19, Spurs will have to find the right man if they are going to rescue the season.
