Ottis Gibson exits as South Africa adopt football-style management structure

Image Credits: Reuters

South Africa will radically overhaul their management team, including saying goodbye to coach Ottis Gibson, as they instead move to a football-style new structure.

West Indian Gibson will not have his contract renewed after a disappointing World Cup in England, where the Proteas won only three of their nine matches and were never in the hunt for the semi-finals.

"Members of (the current) team management, including the various assistant cricket coaches, will not be retained as part of the forthcoming plan," Cricket South Africa (CSA) said in a media release on Sunday.

CSA will instead appoint a team manager, who will select his own coaching staff and captains in the three formats of the game. The medical staff and administrative staff will also report to him.

The team manager will report to CSA Acting Director of Cricket, Corrie van Zyl, who will in turn report to the Chief Executive. The structure will be similar to that at top European football clubs where a technical director takes charge of the coaching staff and players.

While CSA advertise the positions of Director of Cricket, team manager and convener of selectors, Van Zyl will appoint an interim management team, selection panel and captain for the three-Test tour of India in September and October. 

"This change will herald an exciting new era for the SA cricket and will bring us into line with the best practice in professional sport,” CSA Chief Executive Thabang Moroe said.

"I must stress that the new structure was not a rash decision. It was taken after much deliberation by the Board, taking all the factors into consideration about the current state of our cricket and also the plan that we need to get to within the timelines we have set." 

"I would like to thank Ottis Gibson, other members of the team’s current senior management, and our long-serving team manager, Dr. (Mohammed) Moosajee, for their national service to South African cricket."