German coach tipped to take over from Igesund

Orlando Pirates have agreed to release coach Gordon Igesund from his two-year contract - but at a price.

Igesund revealed that he negotiated with Pirates to "buy-out" the remainder of his contract for an amount both parties refused to disclose.

The club released him with immediate effect.

"I will go back to my family and discuss the developments," said Igesund, who added he would be hunting for a job and hinted that he might be going to Santos, a team he has been closely linked with since Clive Barker resigned to join Manning Rangers.

Igesund also revealed that he had received offers from SuperSport United, AmaZulu and national posts in both Botswana and Namibia, but he was going to weigh his options and would decide with his family which offer to accept, but certainly not a job in Gauteng.

But while Igesund pointed towards heading for the People's Team in Cape Town, Santos CEO Goolam Allie denied that the former Highlands Park striker is set to replace Clive Barker as head coach.

"We would like to have Igesund as the head coach, but since we do not have a major sponsor it is highly unlikely that he will join us," said Allie.

At the same time, Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko's German coach Ernst Middendorp appears to have edged out former Sundowns coach Paul Dolezar for the hot seat just vacated by Igesund as the front runner.

Pirates chairperson Irvin Khoza pointed out that he would look for a coach who will take the Buccaneers to a higher level, notwithstanding the fact that they are also preparing for the African Champions League. In the interim, Harris Choeu and Augusto Palacios will be in charge of the team.

Igesund cited the assault he suffered at the hands of unknown people earlier this year, which had worsened his relationship with his wife who constantly feared for his safety, as one of the reasons he reconsidered his position.

Igesund and Khoza embraced in a bear-hug after Khoza, who was rushing off to the Johannesburg High Court for the commission of inquiry into the Ellis Park tragedy, announced that Pirates had accepted, with reluctance and regret, Igesund's resignation.