Western Province Rugby Union president Thelo Wakefield admits that he was the man that stopped John Mitchell from becoming Stormers boss in 2015.
Following the departure of Eddie Jones, who made a vinnige Kaapse draai before going to England, it was reported that Mitchell was on his way to Cape Town to coach the Stormers.
Wakefield, though, derailed those plans because he believes a foreign coach will only do damage in the province.
Wakefield, who is serving in his final year as president of WP, revealed on Phaka on Tuesday night: “I stepped in when we wanted to appoint John Mitchell, that was the only time [I got involved with selecting a coach].
“Because of the history the man had, I couldn’t see that we appoint John Mitchell at WP Rugby.
“To us the foundation of WP is playing good rugby - we couldn’t fault him at that.
“But we come from a very diverse province where we have to transform you bring in a foreigner, he plays the game with whoever he wants to select.
“After a year [he leaves], the damage has been caused and here we sit with the repair work to do.
“I believe this man will leave the union he is now at after a year and I feel vindicated."
He adds: “We have to appoint a coach that is home-grown.”
They did so by appointing former star Robbie Fleck as head coach.
And after a year that has seen the Stormers win only six of their 16 Super Rugby matches and finishing 11th, Wakefield says they "fell flat" in 2018.
He explains: “[Fleck was] not [successful] in 2018. In 2017 that was his first year, he won the conference and went up to the quarterfinal.
“In 2018 the team fell flat, the board had an investigation and we were satisfied with the reasons that were provided.
“They tried various things they’ve learned their lesson.”
After a year as Director of Rugby at the Bulls, Mitchell is leaving to England where he will become Eddie Jones’s defence coach.
But he leaves the Bulls a richer union after having added some flair to their style of play.