Former Bafana Bafana striker Shaun Bartlett refuted claims that he is taking up the vacant head coach position at newly promoted First Division outfit Sea Point Swifts (Hope FC).
Hope FC dropped a bombshell on Monday when it was confirmed via a press release that the club had “mutually parted ways” with its coach Dylan Deane after he led them to success at the ABC Motsepe League playoffs in Umtata a couple of weeks ago.
Now, no one saw this coming and it has taken the majority by surprise but this is the harsh reality of football – as beautiful as it is, it can also be a very cruel sport at times.
Be that as it may, it kind of all makes sense now why Hope were so subdued following their success at the playoffs as serious decisions were being made.
According to Bartlett, who has been without a full-time coaching job for more than a year now, it’s “not true” that he is taking up the position as he had no contact with Hope FC.
“I have not spoken to anyone at Hope before or after the coach left,” Bartlett confirmed via WhatsApp to No Bones with Jones.
Initial rumours emerging from Edgmead of all places suggested that Bartlett would succeed Deane, but it was just that according to Bartlett.
“It’s because my son plays there,” Batlett further added. “Like everyone is saying why did I attend so many games of Hope? Because my son was playing there, that’s why,” Bartlett added.
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if Bartlett gets scooped up by Cape Town City after the Citizens released their Dutch coach Jan Ulderink recently.
