Search for new coach begins

Gerald Majola, the South African board's chief executive, has confirmed that the post of national coach will be advertised for three weeks from this coming Friday (February 18). The panel that will sift through the applicants is to be named next week.

Majola was less forthcoming about when the new coach would be confirmed, although it will have to be fairly soon as the contract of Ray Jennings, the present incumbent, finishes in May. "It will depend to a large extent on the candidates and the interview process," Majola said. "We have to allow sufficient time for the panel to interview all the potential candidates and to be completely satisfied that they have appointed the best person for the job."

He also dismissed suggestions in some parts of the media that Jennings was being unfairly treated. "Ray has always been aware of the situation and understood the process of finding a long-term coach. He was well aware that he would have to apply for the full-time post along with all the other candidates if he wanted to continue in the job."

Jennings himself backed that viewpoint. "When I took the job in October, I knew what the process would be and that, should I want to continue, I would have to apply for the permanent job at the end of my tenure. If there has been any misunderstanding in this regard I regret it."

And he effectively threw his hat in the ring when he spoke of the improvements he had made, adding: "I hope the players will want me to stay on. It doesn't help if I waste my time and energy and the people around me don't support me. I'll talk to the players in the next two or three weeks and ask them, because I'm still in the dark at the moment."

However, Graeme Smith, South Africa's captain, gave Jennings lukewarm support and was quoted in some newspapers as saying he would welcome Steve Waugh in the role. "Jet [Jennings] is very important," he observed, "but we will have wait and see what the board decides. It is a difficult situation."