Cape Town City chairman John Comitis says that firing Benni McCarthy wasn’t an easy call for him to make.
McCarthy’s exit was confirmed by an email at 12.10am on Monday morning, with City’s woeful run of just two wins in 18 matches being the reason for pulling the trigger.
On Tuesday Comitis broke his silence in an interview with Kickoff, telling the website: “This is a difficult time for me when it comes to Benni.
“I don’t want to elaborate at this point. It was a tough call.”
DIFFICULT CALL: Ex-City boss Benni McCarthy. Picture: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
The two men have an intricately-linked past.
Comitis helped launch McCarthy’s European playing career, negotiating his move to Ajax Amsterdam in 1997, a development that would see the formation of Ajax Cape Town.
The billionaire businessman also gave the Bafana Bafana legend his first job as a head coach when McCarthy took the reins at City in June 2017.
But cracks in the relationship started showing in public spats over transfer targets as City struggled with just one win in nine games during the current campaign.
JOB LINK: Muhsin Ertugral. Picture: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix.
McCarthy has now been linked to Orlando Pirates, where he ended his playing career in 2013, and SuperSport United.
Comitis is also looking to move on and has been linked to another close associate from the past, Muhsin Ertugral.
Ertugral worked as Ajax boss twice while Comitis was still with the Urban Warriors.
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But the City chief is not ready to open up about his next move.
He adds: “No decisions have been made. We have to consider all our options.”