Ex-Kaizer Chiefs coach favourite to replace Steve Barker at Stellenbosch

Stellenbosch FC have reportedly added an experienced PSL coach on their list of targets as they look to replace Steve Barker who made a surprise decision to leave the club last week.

Barker, Stellies’ long-serving coach, who spent eight years at the club, quit to join Tanzanian giants Simba SC and left the club looking for a new tactician in the middle of what has been a challenging season.

The club, who have finished third in the PSL in the last two seasons, are in an unfamiliar 14^th place on the log with 12 points from 14 games after winning just three of their matches and need an old hand to steady the ship

Why does Hunt tick most boxes for Stellies?

That man is reportedly Gavin Hunt, who has sprung to the top of the list of potential candidates given his experience and immediate availability.

Hunt, a former SuperSport United, Kaizer Chiefs and Bidvest Wits coach, left Durban City under unclear circumstances at the start of this month and he ticks most boxes on what Stellies are looking for.

The 61-year-old, who has over 1,000 PSL matches under his belt as a coach, is one of the most successful coaches in South Africa as he is a four-time PSL winner who is also good at getting the best out of players and knows how to work under tight budgets.

Veteran coach gets the best out of players

Hunt had impressed at Durban, leading the newly-promoted side to eighth place by the time he parted ways with the club, with the decision reportedly not down to results but a lack of agreement with his bosses on key issues.

Stellies will hope to strike an agreement with Hunt early to get him in place for the second half of the season as they are also competing in the CAF Confederation Cup.

While results have been disappointing this season, Barker set the standards very high at the club and nurtured plenty of players although he kept losing the most impressive ones each season to the big teams in the country and clubs overseas.