BREAKING: Baxter axed by Kaizer Chiefs – report

It’s been a brutal period on the PSL scene over the past month, with no less than three coaches having been shown the door by their respective clubs. According to Soccer Laduma, Baxter is now the latest coach to be let go.

According to the report, the announcement was made to the technical team by sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr, with assistant coaches Arthur Zwane and Dillion Sheppard likely to take over for the remainder of the season.

Baxter’s contract was set to run through to 2023, with there being an option to renew, but it now appears that the experienced coach’s second stint with Chiefs has come to an unceremonious end.

Below, we recap the dramatic few weeks that have played out on the local football scene, which included increasing calls for Baxter to be sacked – with sections of the crowd at FNB Stadium seen chanting for him “to go” after the recent loss to SuperSport.

READ | BAXTER: I’LL WALK AWAY IF I’M NOT MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT AT CHIEFS

The experienced coach had recently attempted to downplay the fans’ reaction, but admitted that he would walk away if their view was shared by the club’s hierarchy.

“I don’t have any message to the fans because if they want me to go I’ll go,” Baxter said, as quoted by iDiski Times. If the chairman says to me I don’t think you’re doing a good job then I’ll walk. I’ve got no problem doing that.

“I will walk myself, if I don’t think I’m affecting the team in a positive way, I’ll walk, not a problem. I’m the only coach that has given this club any success in the last 20 years, but I’ve got to go because we dominate the game and lose 1-0? I’ve got to listen to that?

“It’s ok, they’re a fans, they have the right to say exactly what they want. If that reflects what the chairman thinks and what the players think and the majority of our fans think then maybe I should walk.

“But that’s nothing a group of fans will decide, that’s something the football club or I will decide. If I get that feeling, then of course I’ll walk. But at the moment I’m looking at it as a game we should’ve won but we didn’t and that happens in football.”

The recent firings first began at the end of March when Benni McCarthy was unceremoniously axed by AmaZulu, effective immediately.

The shock news about McCarthy’s axing was followed closely by the announcement last Tuesday that SuperSport United and long-serving coach Kaitano Tembo had reached a mutual agreement to part ways, with assistant Andre Arendse taking over.

READ | TOP STRIKER LINKED TO CHIEFS AS RECRUITMENT TALKS HOT UP

Tembo had served the club for 23 years, first as a player in 1999 before moving into a coaching role, serving as an assistant to Gavin Hunt, Stuart Baxter and Eric Tinkler and then taking over as Head Coach in 2018. During his time as coach, Tembo reached two MTN8 Cup Finals, while winning his maiden trophy against Highlands Park in 2019.

Less than 48 hours later, Golden Arrows then officially confirmed that the club had parted ways with coach Lehlohonolo Seema on Wednesday. The 41-year-old, who previously helped Chippa United avoid relegation via the Premier Soccer League (PSL) promotion/playoffs, had succeeded Mandla Ncikazi as coach of the Durban-based club.

READ | SURPRISE COACH LINKED TO CHIEFS AS REPLACEMENT FOR BAXTER

It now seems that Chiefs have finally lost patience with Baxter after yet another season without silverware. Let us know what you think the upper hierarchy at Amakhosi should do ahead of next season.