Eloff to decide on Lions job

Eloff to decide on Lions job

16 May 2006

South African U19 coach Eugene Eloff has been offered the Lions coaching job in place of Frans Ludeke.

This is the decision taken by the Golden Lions board following a mammoth meeting at Lions HQ last night. It is not yet confirmed that Eloff will accept the proposal, but he is definitely considering the offer.

Eloff is currently in talks with Lions bosses at Ellis Park as they attempt to thrash out an agreement. However, Corrie Pypers – former Transvaal captain (1978 -1980), current chairman of the Lions’ Old Boys Trust and close friend of Eloff – says Loffie will not take the job if Ludeke is still involved in the union in any way.

Ludeke is apparently pencilled in as the new GLRU Director of Coaching, which would effectively make him Eloff’s boss. “There is no way Loffie will work with Frans as his boss. I just don’t see that happening,” Pypers told keo.co.za.

“He will only accept the position if certain non-negotiables are taken care of. The Lions need to meet his demands or he will not take the job, it’s as simple as that.” Those non-negotiables include being able to appoint his own assistants and management team as well as being in control of contracting players for the team.

Eloff is known to favour former Springbok lock Ian MacDonald as his right hand man. The Lions may be in a sticky situation. If they are serious about appointing Eloff, Ludeke is the obvious sacrifice. But it is a sacrifice that could cost the union as much as R7-million. Ludeke is sure to demand a payout of his five-year contract if he is dismissed.

Whether the Lions can afford to pay that kind of money is highly unlikely and a complete waste anyway. The men that need to answer for that are CEO Andy Turner and president Jannie Ferreira. That they allowed Ludeke to sign a five-year deal without having produced any results is, well…ludicrous.

Keo.co.za will bring you the outcome of the talks between the Lions and Eloff later today.

By Andrew Hollely


93 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 » Show All

  • 1.4Kleur: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 11:51 am

    At last!!!!

  • 2.Drunkmonkey: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 11:54 am

    hmmmm

  • 3.4Kleur: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 11:55 am

    Kan iemand my se wat van Blikkies Eastwoods Groenewald en Oom Rudi Joubert geword het?

  • 4.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 11:57 am

    Perhaps the first bit of the R7 bar could come from Turner & Ferreira’s bonusses. If they want to fire Ludeke because he didn’t do his job, perhaps they should look at who was involved with the contracts andget them the hell out of there as well.

    If Ludeke was even just a bit of a man he would step down. He is basically stealing from the GLRU.

  • 5.wicked wugby wascal: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 11:57 am

    Jeeez, Turner and Ferreira need to sit down and take a long look at themselves- their corporate governance borders on negligent or reckless! They should pay that back out of their personal funds!! Only personal liaility for CRAPPY corporate governance will actually get these idiots off their asses (or the golf courses) and thinking about what they are doing!

    Have they never heard of performance clauses?

  • 6.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 11:58 am

    Eloff has my full support. I don’t blame him for taking this stance. He must have full control else it will be a renaming of posts only. I was hoping for more drastic measures but let’s wait and see what happens during the rest of the day.

  • 7.Train: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 11:59 am

    Hilarious, they want to appoint a bloke who’s team has just been hammered in the U19 championship.

    This guy in turn wants to appoint Ian McDonald as his assistant. Ha ha ha.

    All die repect to McDonald – he was a fantastic rugby player but go and ask his teammates from Transvaal about his rugby acumen and intelligence. Ha ha ha ha.

    So glad I’m not a Lions supporter.

  • 8.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:02 pm

    Uhm Train, ever thought about it that this years u/19 team was just ****?

  • 9.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:05 pm

    Train, you are derailed. Eloff was handed a pathetic squad that will loose against the Lions Craven Week team. Can’t judge a man on that. It cannot be expected from a coach to make thoroughbreds from mules in two weeks. Look at the two years before this and judge him on that.

  • 10.kwensie: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:07 pm

    And mules they where indeed

  • 11.Andre_WP: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:10 pm

    Eloff , please go to the Stormers.

  • 12.phoeboe: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:12 pm

    Katesnor
    Moet nie veralgemeen nie. Nie almal was pateties nie. Geen span gaan suksesvol wees as hulle net 2weke geoefen het nie. Die ander spanne was net soveel beter voorberei. Nie die afrigter of die spelers se skuld nie. Gee toe, ons voorspelers was nie groot en sterk genoeg nie.

  • 13.kwensie: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:12 pm

    Loffie can only better the “katsies” performance.

    Good thing to get rid of Ludicrous

  • 14.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:13 pm

    This stance of Eloff confirms what we expected all along – that the two coaches never got along – and then people ask why the Lions didn’t perform as expected. The cat is out of the bag at last. Now we can only hope the Cats will get out its bag – to be shot on the spot … new coach, new name.

  • 15.kwensie: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:14 pm

    new players….

  • 16.billy: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:18 pm

    How could they ever not have put a performance clause in Ludeke’s contract? Im baffeled. Someone dropped the ball big time. Thats a costly mistake!

  • 17.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:19 pm

    phoeboe, daar was enkelinge wat nie sleg was nie maar as ‘n geheel was die squad pateties. Dis nie veralgemening aan my kant nie – die resultate spreek vanself.

  • 18.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:22 pm

    kwensie, yes new players – or older players from somewhere else – is needed. It will cost big bucks but I’m sure they can find it in the City of Gold.

  • 19.leeanthonyw: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:23 pm

    They should just pay out Ludeke and learn from their mistakes. Again this calls for a rugby director in SA and Mallet is the only man for the job!!

  • 20.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:26 pm

    leeanthonyw, Mallet?! Make the whole of SA perform like the Stormers? Jeepers I’m not so sure it’s a good suggestion.

  • 21.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:31 pm

    Ludeke does not deserve a payout of his contract.

  • 22.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:35 pm

    Unfortunately we don’t know for sure if this R7m thing is for real. If so, then the GLRU can give Ludeke any job to do and if he doesn’t like it he can resign. If there is a will there is a way – but is there a really a will – that will do whatever it takes to correct things? I doubt it. Chances are the GLRU will rather sacrifice Eloff than Ludeke – especially if it is true that R7m will be lost to the union if Ludeke is cut loose. They will hunt for a coach that is willing to play second fiddle to Ludeke and save the R7m.

    I’m very concerned about Eloff’s choice of MacDonald however. I prefer Balie Swart.

  • 23.Grrrr....I'm a Lion!: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:43 pm

    For heavens sake!!! Loffie hang on there mate, I’m sending over some of my ‘Southern’ mates to go have a word with Fransie… I think he will come around to my preposal that he should actaully pay back the GLRU for the last few years of service. When that’s done, the job is yours!

  • 24.ibok: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:44 pm

    Based on this information i think the administators should be fired first. Then the new administators should go looking for a coach with at least super rugby experience.

  • 25.Andy2505: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:45 pm

    You shouldnt read too much into eloffs u19 there was a lot of political selections! Last years team 2005 Brad Barrit was overlooked for Jowayne Van Wyk look where Barrit is now and for some reason Waylon Murray was left out 2!

    And this years team Morne Jooste the son of the Chief of Boks selectors was included! Wat also happened to all those monument boys – Byron Godfrey, Johan van Rensburg, Justin St Jerry and Ghaliel Markus!

  • 26.Myler: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:51 pm

    Mc Donald was ‘n flank nie ‘n slot nie!!!!

    Hy mag dalk nie bright wees nie maar het al bietjie sikses behaal as afrigter. Kan in elk geval nie K2Kker wees as wat hulle nou het nie.

    laat Ludeke maar vir JW gaan help, hulle weet ewe veel van rugby.

  • 27.walter: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 12:57 pm

    yes, I also registered just to be able to add that MacDonald was a flanker and not a lock! (But I see Myler beat me to it!)

  • 28.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:00 pm

    If Eloff takes the job and makes a success of it we the fans will insist that Ellis Park be renamed to e-Lofftus :-)

  • 29.walter: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:05 pm

    Loffie seems to have what it takes…I hope they can work something out so that he takes the job today. We also need to scout for some new players…

  • 30.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:06 pm

    Walter, what happened to you?! You’ve been active on this site way back and then you vanished? How’s your website going?

  • 31.walter: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:08 pm

    Somehow I lost my login details and wasn’t able to post….but I was still here…My site is going okay, click on my name to have a look…

  • 32.Vinnie: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:22 pm

    This story is going from the ridiculous to the sublime…

  • 33.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:23 pm

    Walter, I see Keo.co.za is not on your links table. Wonder why? :-)

  • 34.Boychie: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:26 pm

    Train, sorry buddy but you are WAY of the mark. Loffie is an excellent coach, who was responsible for our win in the under 19 tournament last year. He has earned his stripes in the age groups and certainly deserves some recognition.

    I also applaud his stance. A coach is judged on his results. This is only fair if he can have a say in his assistants and the squad he is given. Otherwise he is on a hiding to nothing. All the luck to him, let`s hope for the Lion`s sake that he gets what he wants.

  • 35.Boychie: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:30 pm

    Andre_WP, I agree brother!

    We`ll take Loffie in exchange for Fester and gary Glitter!

  • 36.walter: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:32 pm

    Katsesnor, probably because keo hasn’t got a link to my site! LOL!

  • 37.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:55 pm

    Keo, Ig,

    Please place a banner for ############### on your website. Walter will then place a banner for Keo.co.za on his. Let this War of the Links end now! :-)

    Seriously, maybe a page with links to Muppets’ sites on Keo.co.za have merit. It will make this site more personal and “tribal”.

  • 38.Andre_WP: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 13:59 pm

    Stormers need a new coach , i hope they get someone soon. Who’s coaching Province for the CC this year ? Paarwater ?

  • 39.cab: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:00 pm

    How about canning both and bringing in an international fella, John Mitchell is out of the question, but i would think with that sort of money we could get a decent skills coach from Nz or Oz.

    Also, lets buy some proper players for next season.

  • 40.Ig: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:04 pm

    cab – they tried with Lauire Mains. He got them places but the classic – player revolt and his unwillingness to heed the need for transformation saw that come to an end. I suspect too mnay closed minds running the ship.

  • 41.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:06 pm

    cab, with all the GLRU money “invested” in Australia they should buy the ‘Tahs and ship them over to SA. That will solve the players problem.

    BTW Suparugby claims that Eloff’s appointment is a done deal. This site says it isn’t until Ludeke is out. What are we to believe? Andrew?

  • 42.walter: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:11 pm

    Katsesnor, it’s clear that it’s not a done deal yet, sounds like the official announcement will be Wednesday, guess they are still negotiating the deal…

  • 43.cab: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:14 pm

    Ig, ya and Laurie was a our best since Kitch. As you say, not the sharpest, but that Turner looked like he had a good plan in place.

    kats, yes, i don’t think unions like the GLRU should be investing overseas, they should be investing in rugby in this country.

  • 44.ciccino: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:31 pm

    Can someone unswear a simple question?
    Why the same players were scoring loads of trys when Elof was a lion’s backline coach and the same players can’t do anything right for the Cats under springbok backline coach?

  • 45.Vinnie: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:36 pm

    Could you name those players please ciccino?

  • 46.walter: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:36 pm

    I can do a lot of swearing after watching the Cats this season! LOL!

  • 47.Staal: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:40 pm

    I’ll nail my colours to the wall now:

    Eloff won’t make it as a senior coach – and this is a inside view.

    Sorry.

  • 48.nielsm: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:41 pm

    Isn’t Loffie the idiot who made SPIES wing?

    Lions fans your bad years far from over.

    Loffie’s reign will end in a flood of tears as well..

    Consider this: Is’nt the fact that when we won the u19 wc last year it was because of great players and when Lof had to come up with the goods this year with an ordinary side he was found lacking?

  • 49.walter: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:41 pm

    Staal

    What are you saying, that he will get the job and fail, or that he won’t get the job?

  • 50.David: Reply to this comment
    16 May 2006, 14:45 pm

    Could someone please explain to me the difference between having Ludicrous standing around doing nothing at the GLRU and paying him his 7 million to go away and do nothing?
    The money is already wasted. They just have accept the loss and move on.

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