THOUGH his heart is still with National First Division club Black Leopards, Serbian coach Vladislav Heric is looking for a new club.

THOUGH his heart is still with National First Division club Black Leopards, Serbian coach Vladislav Heric is looking for a new club.

He believes Leopards are deliberately frustrating him by dragging their feet on a new contract.

Heric said Leopards actions suggest that they already had another coach in mind.

"They might be saying that they are still interested in my services but their actions point to the contrary," said Heric, who saved the team from relegation last season.

"We were supposed to meet last week for a new contract but they did not show up. It is not my fault."

The former City Pillars, FC AK and Bay United mentor proved his technical and tactical nous when he steered Leopards to the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup.

Heric, who said he was open to new offers, brought stability to the team when he moved to Venda in the third round of the First Division campaign.

But Leopards boss David Thidiela told Sowetan yesterday it was Heric who was loath to sign a new contract.

"He was supposed to have signed a two-year contract last week but he never pitched up for a meeting and he is the one who made it impossible for us to clinch a deal with him," Thidiela said.

"I can reveal that he is no longer our coach and we are searching for a new coach to take the team forward next season. We are busy going through a number of CVs from interested coaches and we will make an announcement soon, after we have got our man."

Black Leopards finished sixth in the eight-team Inland Stream last season.