Hunt's head on chopping block

The SuperSport United board have given coach Gavin Hunt an ultimatum: win the next three matches or else.

The three-time Absa Premiership title-winning coach and his assistant Thomas Madigage were on Tuesday hauled before a meeting of the United board and management where they were handed the ultimatum.

At the meeting were United chairman Khulu Sibiya, director of football Stan Matthews and commercial manager Jose Ferreira.

"The chairman told them he wants maximum points in the next three games," said a United insider. "He expressed grave concern that the team were doing badly. He also wanted to know how they were going to better the situation."

Reigning champions SuperSport are fourth from bottom of the log, with 20 points from 19 matches. They have won five, drawn five and lost nine - including the last three.

Another source revealed Hunt and Madigage did not attend training on Thursday.

"Goalkeeper coach William Shongwe was in charge of the training session."

The Sunday Times understands that Hunt spent Thursday in Cape Town.

"No one knows what is happening exactly. There was no explanation for their absence.

"If Gavin is not there, Thomas takes charge as second-in-command. There has never been a situation where both of them did not show up. Thomas was seen at the club offices later in the day," the source said.

However, Ferreira insisted there was no crisis. He said Hunt had been in Namibia scouting players on Thursday.

" There was a meeting but we meet on a regular basis almost every month. There was no panic issues discussed. We are rebuilding the team and we knew we were going to struggle.

"But it has surprised me how we have struggled. There is no crisis and we are only four points from the Top Eight."

United play in the African Champions League against Matlama in Lesotho this afternoon. They lead 2-0 from the first leg.

Meanwhile, Ajax Cape Town are on the lookout for a coach - after incumbent Foppe De Haan expressed a wish to call time on a 40-year coaching career.