Former Kaizer Chiefs and Maritzburg united head coach has been linked with a surprise move to the Betway Premiership side, Amazulu fc.
Martin was relieved of his duties on Tuesday after his charges suffered their third defeat in as many matches, following a narrow 1-0 loss to Marumo Gallants over the weekend.
As a result, Usuthu plunged to the bottom of the Betway Premiership standings with zero points, alongside TS Galaxy and the defeat to Gallants coincided with a month-long league recess, due to the MTN8 final weekend and the international weeks thereafter.
Various top coaches have already been linked with the hot seat at the KwaZulu-Natal, including the likes of Benni McCarthy, who led the club to their first CAF Champions League qualification and group stage success in the 2021/22 season, Bradley Carnell who was in the Major League Soccer (MLS) at St. Louis City, Jwaneng Galaxy head coach Morena Ramoreboli and veteran tacticians such Stuart Baxter and Muhsin Ertugral.
However, although Vusumuzi Vilakazi also initially was believed to be one of the favourites, KickOff has been reliably informed that AmaZulu have opened talks with Cape Town Spurs head coach Ernst Middendorp.
According to sources close to Usuthu, the KZN outfit are currently engaging Middendorp with the view of roping him in to succeed Martin and has emerged as a front-runner for the vacant job.
The German tactician initially left Spurs after their relegation in the Betway Premiership in June, after the Urban Warriors cited “restrictive financial environment of the NFD” as the reason for parting ways.
The former Kaizer Chiefs mentor was believed to be exploring other options in the Premiership and abroad, but after not finding a suitable project, he was later reinstated by the Mother City outfit.
Middendorp has traversed the City of Durban the most in the PSL after having four spells at Durban City FC (formerly Maritzburg United) and also had a stint at Golden Arrows, among a host of his former clubs.
