Baxter's chances of succeeding Mashaba as Bafana coach diminish by the day

MARCH 08 2016. Stuart Baxter of SuperSport during the Nedbank Cup, Last 32 match between Moroka Swallows and SuperSport United at Dobsonville Stadium Pic Veli Nhlapo © Sowetan.
MARCH 08 2016. Stuart Baxter of SuperSport during the Nedbank Cup, Last 32 match between Moroka Swallows and SuperSport United at Dobsonville Stadium Pic Veli Nhlapo © Sowetan.

SuperSport United coach Stuart Baxter appears to have priced himself out of the Bafanan Bafana job.

The Briton's R1million a month salary and other additional demands he's added since agreeing in principle to take over the job have emerged as the reasons South African Football Association (Safa) officials are yet to announce the new senior national team coach four months after Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba's sacking.

Mashaba‚ who is currently engaged in an arbitration battle with his former employers at CCMA‚ was sacked in December following his outburst at Safa officials and at the media after the 2-1 win over Senegal in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in Polokwane.

Insiders told Times Media Digital on Tuesday that his demand to have his son Lee appointed as national team goalkeeper coach and Joshua Smith as physical trainer on a full-time basis also contributed to the stalemate.

Baxter has also made additional requests for a car‚ cell-phone‚ overseas travel allowance‚ housing allowance and special performance bonuses in addition to his salary demand.

United gave Baxter permission to speak to Safa last month but the Pretoria side indicated that the coach would only be available at the end of the current season if all the parties agreed on the terms.

Safa elected to open talks with another coach when Baxter's demands started to increase and chief executive Dennis Mumble confirmed to Times Media Digital that they are exploring other options.

“We have never said that we are talking to only one person‚" Mumble said last week.

"We have to make sure that we have alternatives and that’s what we are working on now.

"I can’t mention names but there is more than one person we are talking to and it is something that we really have
to try and finalise as soon as possible.”

Caretaker coach Owen da Gama was recently in charge of the friendly matches against Guinea Bissau and Angola and he will continue in that acting capacity if Safa are not able to find a replacement who is available immediately in the coming weeks.

This year‚ Bafana have a daunting opening 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria in June.

That encounter will be followed by back-to-back 2018 World Cup qualifier matches against Cape Verde in September and one against Burkina Faso in October. TMG Digital/TMG Digital

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