The Golden Lions rugby union have taken severe action against their coach John Mitchell by suspending him with immediate effect.
In an exclusive interview with Jan de Koning of Rugby365.com GLRU President Kevin de Klerk confirmed the suspension.
“The nature of the players’ complaints is so serious that we have suspended him (Mitchell), pending further investigation,” De Klerk said.
De Klerk was not prepared to elaborate on the details of the complaints but he did mention that the decision was not taken lightly.
In the meantime, Assistant coaches Carlos Spencer and Johan Ackerman will take charge of the team as the Super Rugby competition continues next week.
Mitchell is no stranger to controversy having also been ‘sacked’ while coach of the Western Force when he had a similar fall out with his players.
Several players are said to be weighing up their options due to the uncertainty of their union’s participation in Super Rugby from next year.
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HECTIC!! 😯 😕
BLIKSEM
Camp-Steelwire 😆
oh goodness this is not good .
Luckily we already played and beat the sharks … 😛
@Zibbie (Comment 4) :
Was that your Cup final for the season?? 😈 😆
@Zibbie (Comment 4) : At least, when the snoiL are replaced by the Kings, you’ll be able to fit in as a typical Tjietas supporter us Sharks fans have become accustomed to. 😉
@Megatron (Comment 7) :
The spam filter needs to be adjusted to include that acronym! 😈
the beginning of the end.welcome to super 15 kings
@wpw (Comment 1) : Spoilt little Lions don’t like being spoken harshly to. Shame.
Does that mean John Mitchell will soon be available to coach the Sharks? 😈
@wpw (Comment 5) :
Yes … lol 😛 we are a one game team 😛 not a one coach team 😛
wish it could be the other way around 😛
@FireTheLooser (Comment 6) :
My mother bought me a jersy with a Sharks logo on by accident a few years back .. maybe that was a sign …..
@Megatron (Comment 7) :
EISH ! you bloody agent 😛 😉
I’m not sure who’s biggest loser in this scenario. The rag-tag Lions were lucky to have a coach of international quality support them through thick-and-thin. A quick read through Spencer and Ackerman’s ‘extensive’ coaching CVs and it sure looks like they’ll be going from bad to worse.
@vanmartin (Comment 11) : He and ‘Dolph could swap some training stories, for sure.
@vanmartin (Comment 11) :
Those surfer boys will have a revolt within a week or 2 😛
@CapeShark (Comment 13) :
if i where you i wouldent say to much about the rag – tag Lions who whipped your buts just a month ago 😛
@Zibbie (Comment 15) :
You mean surfer moffies?? 😈 😉
@Zibbie (Comment 16) : Heh-heh Zibs, I’m talking about the union as a whole, boet. Don’t need to tell you this but bad financial and player planning has wrecked that union. And what gets my goat is that quality players like Jantjies, Minnie, Doppies etc have seen their careers been limited. Anyway my point is, when a potty-mouth like Mitchell comes along and offers to coach a team like this, perhaps it’s best that the players just man up a bit and let potty-mouth insult their moms or what not.
@wpw (Comment 8) : this is the Stormer’s chance to bag a BONUS point! 😆 surely they should be able to put down these coach-less pussies.
Megatron
Meneer, jy vat kanse! 😆
I wonder if Management at the Lions aren’t just looking for an excuse to fire him rather than have to pay him out when the Lions get relegated next season and they therefore no longer have a job for him.
@CapeShark (Comment 18) :
i agree … dont think the financial situation is fully the fault of the union …
but yea ..
This is a laugh riot.
Mitchell gets his under performing side to beat the sharks twice, then gets suspended for his troubles!
He`s perfect for our prima donnas!
Sign him Rudolf!!! 😈
Apparently Mitchell and Nick Mallet are cut from the same cloth getting so upset and angry at players doing idiotic things while training drills that he will throw players with the ball(sometimes in the face at point blank range) and will then after the incident try and rectify the outburst…sound a lot like my varsity coach!! And we didn’t loose a game in four years!! Maybe he didn’t toss the ball hard enough.
@Megatron (Comment 18) : @wpw (Comment 19) :