Tinkler stuns Comitis

Cape Town City owner John Comitis says he knew an offer would be made for coach Eric Tinkler, but did not expect the former Bafana Bafana midfielder to accept it.

City said yesterday morning Tinkler had walked out on the club after one season of a three-year contract, and in the afternoon he was announced as the new Supersport United coach, replacing Stuart Baxter.

Tinkler recently bought a house in Cape Town and was due to move into it in 10 days' time.

"Quite frankly, we are very disappointed. The way the thing has been handled is not how I would have liked," Comitis said.

"Eric didn't give me a chance to compete [financially] with the offer and it was something we could have matched.

"All that was said previously was about commitment, loyalty and the future. I thought I had Eric's trust. We were already in discussions about a new contract.

"To a large extent I was blind-sided because although I knew an offer would be made to Eric, it was a surprise to me that he would even consider it."

Comitis hinted that it was perhaps the fear of not knowing whether he could repeat the success of the 2016-2017 campaign that drove Tinkler's thinking.

The coach led the team to the third position in the Absa Premiership and claimed the Telkom Knockout in the club's first season in the top flight after buying the status of Mpumalanga Black Aces.

"There are probably a few things at play and, after such a fantastic season, you never know what that does to people."

Comitis would not be drawn on candidates to replace Tinkler, but confirmed he had identified "an individual".

"The new coach will be of the same mind [as I] in terms of the type of players we have purchased and the way Cape Town City wants to play," Comitis said.

"The coach we select will pick up the momentum we have created. With the homework I have done, I believe I have possibly found a gem."