SuperSport chairman determined to hang on to Baxter

STUART Baxter has seemingly moved closer to a return to Bafana Bafana after outspoken SuperSport United chairman Khulu Sibiya let slip that he is doing everything in his power to prevent the Briton from returning to the coaching job he left 12 years ago.

A candid Sibiya disclosed that it had come to his attention that Safa officials were circling Baxter and if it turned out he was interested in replacing sacked Bafana coach Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba, the Briton would not be allowed to walk out of United without a fight.

“[SuperSport United chief executive Stan Matthews] said to me, ‘Chair, I believe that they [Safa] have made overtures to Stuart Baxter’,” Sibiya said.

“I said, ‘Oh really, and what is Stuart saying?’ He [Matthews] said, ‘No chairman, there is no way Stuart is going to go back there, no way . . . he said he is comfortable at SuperSport’.”

Safa chief executive Dennis Mumble said yesterday he had not spoken to any coach, including Baxter, about the Bafana job and he had nothing to add to Sibiya’s claims.

“Up until now we have not engaged anyone and neither has the Safa president, Danny Jordaan.”

The Bafana job has been vacant since last month after Safa fired Mashaba for a litany of indiscretions.

Mashaba is challenging his dismissal at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration and his case will come up for review on February 7.

Baxter was axed as national team coach in November 2005 after failing to guide the team to the 2006 World Cup.

Sibiya remained adamant and said should Safa persist with appointing Baxter to the Bafana job, he would not allow the Briton to return without a fight.

“If Baxter says he wants to go back, I will say he is not going anywhere.”

But when told that no club can stop a coach from coaching a national team if he has a clause in his contract that releases him, Sibiya toned down the rhetoric and said there was very little he could do should Baxter decide he wants the job.

“If he says he wants to go anywhere, then we will have to release him.

“You cannot keep a person who does not want to be here. But personally and honestly, I would want Baxter to stay on at SuperSport. That guy has changed my team around.”

Safa hope to appoint a coach by March when Bafana play their first match of the year, a friendly international.