Kings eye top-rated WP coach

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EP official tight-lipped over Cape reports.

There could be a major shake-up in the EP Kings rugby coaching structures if they succeed in their reported quest to sign highly rated Western Province Vodacom Cup coach John Dobson.

Though the Kings would not confirm they have made a swoop for Dobson, reports from Cape Town said that Eastern Province wanted to sign the innovative coach.

EP Kings chief executive Charl Crous said there were vacancies within the coaching structures and that the Kings were in the process of identifying candidates to fill these positions.

“We are not prepared to discuss who those candidates are at this point,” Crous said.

News that Dobson is on the Kings’ wish list comes shortly after defence coach Michael Horak left to join the Sharks and forwards coach Shaun Sowerby left Port Elizabeth to join Montpellier in France.

That means head coach Carlos Spencer is the sole survivor of the Kings’ dismal return to Currie Cup Premier Division rugby, when they lost nine of 10 matches.

At this stage it is not known whether the Kings, if they succeed in their quest for Dobson, would appoint him as head coach or place him in the vacant position of director of rugby.

Dobson may also be considered, in light of Crous’s statement, for the vacancies left by Horak and Sowerby.

Though there has been no official announcement, defence guru Omar Mouneimne, formerly of the Southern Kings and Edinburgh, looks set to replace Horak.

Reports from Cape Town say Stormers and Western Province coach Allister Coetzee is in high demand to coach in the Japanese league and that Dobson’s services are being sought by the Kings to become their head coach.

WP director of rugby Gert Smal said they would like to keep all current coaches at the union for the next three years and were busy with negotiations.