Gold explains Sharks exit

Gary Gold's decision to resign as director of rugby at the Sharks is both a blessing and a disguise for new chief executive Gary Teichmann. Photo by: Muzi Ntombela

Gary Gold's decision to resign as director of rugby at the Sharks is both a blessing and a disguise for new chief executive Gary Teichmann. Photo by: Muzi Ntombela

Published Oct 28, 2016

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Gary Gold’s decision to resign as director of rugby at the Sharks is both a blessing and a disguise for new chief executive Gary Teichmann, who is looking to trim down costly administrative structures as the Sharks move into a new era.

Gold, a former Springbok forwards coach, has not been overly popular with Sharks fans since he took office two years ago at Kings Park, but many forget that he was forced into the position of head coach because there was arguably nobody else of ability at that stage, given the departures of Brendan Venter (voluntarily) and Jake White (by mutual agreement).

Expediency meant Gold never got the chance to be the director who would oversee all rugby in KwaZulu-Natal.

It is a moot point now. Gold has resigned with one year to go in his contract at Kings Park because he says he has exciting coaching possibilities in the Cape, his home.

Would he have stayed on in Durban had he been offered the head coach position for the Super Rugby team next year?

“It never got to that stage of negotiations,” Gold said Thursday night.

“I just felt it was time for me to move on, and Gary Teichmann and I had long and honest conversations, and in the end I was happy to tender my resignation. I was not fired, Gary wanted me to coach into next year, but I wanted to resign.”

Interestingly, a Sharks press statement said that Gold would not be replaced. The Sharks will move on without a director of rugby.

While Teichmann could not be reached for comment last night, his confidant and former teammate at the Sharks and Springboks, John Allan, gave strong opinions on Teichmann’s way forward for the Sharks.

Teichmann took over as chief executive of the Sharks when John Smit resigned from the job in July after three years in the position.

He, in turn, had taken over from Brian van Zyl.

“I think Teich is building towards a slim, trim, mean operation that is based on a strong head coach who has a close relationship with a strong chief executive,” said Allan.

“In Teich’s vision, there will be a lot of wheat cut from the chaff. But I am certainly not talking about Gary Gold.

“He is a fantastic rugby man who came in when the Sharks were in crisis and this year beat two New Zealand teams, and he almost beat three of their sides. He is hardly a bad coach.”

So Gold is gone and Robert du Preez will coach the side in Super Rugby next year.

“I think the Sharks are getting things in place,” Allan said.

“You cannot get two more passionate Sharks men working in tandem than Teichmann and Du Preez.

“They understand the ethos of Sharks rugby better than most, and they will work from the bottom upwards to get a new nucleus of local players coming through who will have a passion and hunger for the jersey.”

The Mercury

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