Ernst Middendorp will continue his role as the club's head coach barely a week after the involved parties announced their contract has been terminated by mutual consent.
In a statement to the public, the Urban Warriors, who had been relegated from the Premier Soccer League confirmed the exit of the 65-year-old who had joined the club in November 2023 to save them from the axe.
Despite collecting 20 points – under his reign as opposed to just four they had managed prior to his arrival, Spurs wanted a fresh start in the second tier.
“Unfortunately, due to the restrictive financial environment of the [second tier], the club was unable to extend the relationship,” Club's CEO Alexi Efstathiou stated as explained by the club.
“There is nothing sinister in the decision as the coach clearly indicated that he was willing to stay on and assist the team in getting promoted back to the PSL.”
Back like he never left! Middendorp wants to realize his vision with Spurs
On Monday, the Cape Town outfit confirmed the change in plans, insisting his work at the club is not yet done.
The former Kaizer Chiefs tactician hinted the involved parties have worked out the constraints that strained their working relationship, which has now made it easy for the coach to continue with his role at the club.
“I bought into the vision of the club from day one. The picture that the board put in front of me, really excited me and we had started implementing the plans with the intention of building on this in the new season.” Middendorp said as quoted by the club's media team.
“Unfortunately, we were a couple of points short at the end and were relegated. The challenge of the project however remained in my mind even though the club and I decided to part ways.
“When I returned to Cape Town on Friday, I received a call from the directors to meet up for breakfast. We were able to carve a way through the obstacles that were originally there.
“I requested the board to try to keep the squad together and not sell players unless they received really strong offers. I am happy to say that we can now continue from where we left off and deliver, together with the board, the club that we all envisage to one day attain its rightful place in SA football,” he concluded.
Middendorp now hopes to help the team get back to the Premier Soccer League in the 2025/26 campaign.
