Bartlett's replacement: Spurs narrow down potential candidates with 'PSL experience'

After parting ways with Shaun Bartlett last weekend, Cape Town Spurs are actively searching for their next head coach and a key requirement is extensive experience coaching in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

The legendary Bafana Bafana striker steered the club from the depths of relegation in the National First Division (NFD) to promotion back into the DStv Premiership last season.

But City's return to South Africa’s top flight soon turned sour after a seventh consecutive defeat came against Cape rivals Cape Town City, which ultimately ended Bartlett's reign as boss.

Spurs' owners, the Efstathiou family, pulled the trigger less than three months after Bartlett penned a new two-year deal.

Sean Connor, who joined the club as technical director hours before Bartlett’s sacking, is taking care of interim duties while Vasili Manousakis was roped in as the new assistant coach.

On Wednesday, Spurs' first match post-Bartlett, the Cape side went down 2-1 to SuperSport United at Athlone Stadium, their eighth straight defeat.

Connor and the club’s owners have been entrusted to find Bartlett’s replacement sooner rather than later, and Manousakis has hinted that there is already a shortlist of candidates.

A key requirement is extensive experience coaching in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).

“What I do know is that there were many applications. From my understanding, there is now a shortlist of very experienced PSL coaches [who management are considering],” said Manousakis, a former Cape Town City, AmaZulu and Richards Bay assistant coach.

“They know their way around the PSL and PSL players. I am actually looking forward to working with the next coach because, if it is someone with experience, I can only get better. Everybody else around us