Clever Boy Hunt heading for Wits
Manager gets ‘ head-spinning ’ offer
G‘ Gavin has a contract with us and it ’ s up to him if he wants to break it ’
AVIN Hunt is set to become a student — the SuperSport United coach is headed for Bidvest Wits.
The Sunday Times can reveal that Hunt is in talks with the Clever Boys, who have put in “a head-spinning offer” to lure the three time Absa Premiership winning coach away from Pretoria to Milpark.
A source privy to the development said: “Wits have offered Gavin something quite big. It’s head-spinning figures”.
Hunt is believed to earn between R3-million and R3,5million a year.
The 48-year-old is in the first year of a new three-year contract with the club he has coached for six years. The contract has a release clause.
At Wits, Hunt will reunite with Jose Ferreira — with whom he worked when United dominated the domestic league by capturing three consecutive championships between 2007 and 2010.
Ferreira is now Wits ’ chief executive and is driving the bid to bring Hunt to the university lecture room.
Hunt could not be contacted for comment, but United director of football Stan Matthews said when he became aware of Wits’ advances to Hunt, he confronted both men.
“Jose confirmed they are in talks,” said Matthews. “I said to them if they want to speak to each other and explore options of working together, it’s fine.
“All I asked was for respect for the club. The three of us have won things together at United.
“Let’s not have a situation where we break our relationship by speaking behind each other’s backs.”
Matthews didn’t beat about the bush when asked whether United would counter Wits’ offer.
“No. Gavin has a contract and it is up to him if he wants to break it. I don’t know what they are offering him,” said Matthews.
“I believe this has to be a desire thing. If his heart is with us, he will stay. But if he feels he wants to maximise his earnings and go to the highest bidder, then we wish him luck.
“Gavin has been a fantastic servant of the club and brought us three league titles and a cup. “Nobody can take that away from him. But if he feels his future lies elsewhere, we would not stand in his way. We just want clarity.”
That clarity is likely to come this week.
Said Matthews: “Jose has given me an undertaking that the talks will be concluded at the end of March.
“It is difficult to sign players if Gavin is not going to be here next season because then he is not the guy I should be consulting. ”
United have already made three additions to their squad for next season. Wingers Thuso Phala, 26, and Bennett Chenene, 29, have come in as free agents from Platinum Stars and Moroka Swallows, while midfielder Innocent Mkhabela, 23, has also been snatched from Stars for free.
After firing Antonio Habas in January, Wits brought in Clive Barker to hold the reins until the end of the season. By chasing Hunt’s signature, Wits are sending a strong message that they are setting their sights on the league title. Even the historians can’t recall when last the Clever Boys did that.