Ackermann favourite for Lions job

Ackermann favourite for Lions job

26 Sep 2012

Golden Lions interim head coach Johan Ackermann is likely to replace the suspended John Mitchell on a full-time basis.

Following Mitchell’s suspension in June, the legal battle between the Johannesburg union and the Kiwi coach is still ongoing after several postponements. It’s only expected to be settled next week.

The two parties are likely to agree terms and Mitchell is set to exit after spending two years at the Lions. The 48-year-old was first appointed as head coach ahead of the 2010 Currie Cup, and led the team to the domestic title last season.

President Kevin de Klerk confirmed that if the Lions and Mitchell part ways, the union will carry out a process to find his replacement. But he also hinted that Ackermann will be the favourite choice for the job.

‘Johan has done a fantastic job since he’s taken over as interim head coach,’ De Klerk told keo.co.za. ‘He’s kept the players motivated during a tough time and that is showing in the Currie Cup.’

The Lions are currently on top of the Currie Cup log, with only three league rounds remaining until the play-offs.

By Gareth Duncan


17 Comments

  • 1.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 08:06 am

    Good luck Dragons.

  • 2.RL: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 08:12 am

    Pffffffft

    Who cares relegated leeusers will not regain their spot in superrugby until the competition changes.

  • 3.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 08:26 am

    The only man in SA in recent memory to manhandle Bakkies like a ragdoll

  • 4.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 08:41 am

    he seems to be doing alright.

  • 5.Hop Hop Spinnekop: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 09:42 am

    The Lions are still playing Mitchell’s brand of rugby. Ackers was the forwards coach at the Lions when JM ran the show. Yes… the Lions scrum is fantastic but like JC said it’s the work of Balie Swart. Let’s look at the Lions line out…. shambles. Ackers is a great guy but will fade…..

  • 6.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 09:45 am

    3. Also the chief culprit in our 53-3 loss to england in 2002.

  • 7.Hop Hop Spinnekop: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 09:56 am

    @Brigadier Van Zyl-6: I’m pretty sure it was not Ackers.

  • 8.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 09:59 am

    @Hop Hop Spinnekop-7: Jannes L. I think?

  • 9.knave: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 09:59 am

    Hi All. New here. In my opinion, Ackerman has done nothing yet. Give the Sharks, Bulls, WP their Boks back and the Lions are on a hiding to nothing.

  • 10.Hop Hop Spinnekop: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 10:00 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-8: Correct…

  • 11.DonutDunning: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 10:08 am

    What can you Lions fans tell me about Etienne Oosthuizen?
    Just read that the Lions have released him to sign for the Brumbies for the next 2 years.
    At 200cm and 120kg he’s defintely big enough, but then again the Tahs thought the same thing about Hendrik Roodt.

    Promising prospect?

  • 12.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 10:12 am

    7. Aplogies ackers, it might have been jannes.l

  • 13.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 10:13 am

    Never heard of him.
    Does that tell you everything you need to know?

  • 14.CharlesM: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 11:06 am

    @Brigadier Van Zyl-12: It definitely was Jannes Labuschagne

  • 15.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 11:19 am

    I remember that Test, that’s the one where captain Corne “lift doesn’t go all the way to the top floor” Krige punched his own player…that’s right, he took a swing at a Pom but missed and connected (I think) Percy instead!

    Howls of protest to the ref from Corne saying: “But we don’t punch our own players, Me Ref”, but guess what? The video showed conclusively that Springboks do indeed punch their own players!

    Well done, captain!!!

  • 16.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 11:44 am

    Ah korny krige…where were alk the wp supporters then. By far and away the poorest backrower i can remember taking the field for sa and kaptein nogol. In charge of any number of megadefeats.

  • 17.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    26 Sep 2012, 13:12 pm

    @Brigadier Van Zyl-16: Mallett’s boykie?

    Provincialism at work…

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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