The country’s most experienced coach was unceremoniously dumped in a statement released by the club.
“Durban City Football Club can confirm that the Club and Head Coach Gavin Hunt have parted ways by mutual agreement, effective immediately,” it said. “The decision follows discussions between the Club’s Board of Directors and Hunt, concluding a thorough review of the team’s objectives and trajectory.
“This was a decision reached amicably in the best interests of the Club. We thank Gavin for his dedication and service during his time with us and wish him every success in the next chapter of his career.
“The Board believes a new direction is necessary to achieve our performance goals.”
Assistant coach Pitso Dladla will be in charge of the upcoming match against Orbit College on Wednesday.
What is behind this change of heart for a team that were performing well considering this is their first season back in the topflight following their relegation and change in brand from Maritzburg United in 2024?
It is clear that Hunt and the club management, led by chairman Farook Kadodia, did not see eye-to-eye on a number of matters.
Hunt is ‘old school’ as a coach and balks at modern methods and science, preferring to trust his gut and what he sees with his own eyes.
He had also hinted in interviews that several signings were made without his blessing and that he was not so involved in squad development.
He suggested he expected more freedom to be able to craft the squad how he wants, but this was not forthcoming. This lack of control and constant butting of heads with management has resulted in his departure.
There was already turmoil at the club this season when technical director Ernst Middendorp quit after three months over a clash in ideology with Hunt.
Whoever felt that was a partnership between two strong, uncompromising characters that could not work was sorely wrong.
Whether Middendorp, who has been hired several times before by Kadodia, now re-enters the picture remains to be seen.
Hunt arrived at City at the start of the season and has them in eighth place in the Betway Premiership standings with 19 points after 14 games. They go to Orbit College in their final fixture of 2025 on Wednesday.
Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Pirates marked Hunt’s 1019th game as a coach in South African football – a runaway record.