Former Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter officially vacated his job a poorer man after a four-hour meeting with the South African Football Association (Safa) management committee on Wednesday at the FNB Stadium.
Baxter, who tendered his letter of resignation to Safa CEO Raymond Hack on Tuesday afternoon, walked out of the meeting a clearly defeated man as his 19-month tenure at the helm of Bafana Bafana yielded no results on the field or in his bank account.
He refuted claims that he had requested a severance package from his former employers, stating that he got involved with Safa for the development of South African football.
”It was never about the money. If it was, I would have left here months ago after a Middle East association had offered me a job at $1-million. There was no payout discussed,” said a clearly disturbed Baxter.
The meeting, Baxter also stated, was not about financial remuneration but rather that he ”needed a formal acceptance of the resignation and that things ended amicably”.
Baxter also offered reasons for his termination of his contract with Safa, stating frustrations that prevented him from carrying out his duties as head coach of the national team.
”My resignation came from a culmination of frustrations and it had nothing to do with the results. I just couldn’t do my job the way I wanted to do it and Safa could not amputate my frustrations,” Baxter said.
Before Tuesday’s anticipated resignation, Baxter had handed South Africa their worst international record without a win — spanning nine games — since the country was readmitted to Fifa in 1992.
The ever-diplomatic Baxter did not rule out a further stint in an advisory capacity to the national team for the upcoming African Cup of Nations to be played in Egypt in January.
”Whoever the new coach is, I will be willing to assist them in a supportive capacity, but that is entirely up to him,” Baxter said.
Baxter kindly offered a word of advice to his successor, if he intends surviving in the job.
”I would just say that whoever the coach is going to be, they must ensure that they have good relations with their technical and supportive staff and must also establish good relations with coaches at club level,” Baxter said.
To kill time before he officially vacates his office on December 12, Baxter will be considering a few offers, mainly from Scandinavian countries.
”I’ve received four offers from Scandinavian clubs. Three months ago, I turned down an offer from a top Swedish club and even though my family and home are in Sweden, I would like a bigger challenge,” Baxter said.
Baxter conceded that he will miss South Africa and urged the powers that be to ensure the game grows and that the talent is nurtured to its full potential as the country gears up for the 2010 World Cup.
”I will certainly miss this country. It is a marvellous place and has a lot of potential in terms of growing the game, talent and fans,” Baxter concluded. — Sapa