As previously reported by the Siya crew, coach Steve Barker had emerged as one of the top candidates for the Sekhukhune United job that now appears vacant.
But it's now understood Babina Noko will look elsewhere after receiving the Stellenbosch FC mentor's salary demands.
Sekhukhune are in search of someone to take over from Lehlohonolo Seema, who was placed on 'special leave' a few weeks before the end of the 2023/24 season for allegedly hav- ing a fallout with the club's hierarchy.
Indications are that Seema, although he had an option in his contract for a further three years pending a performance review, will see his initial agreement with Ba- bina Noko expire at the end of this month – leaving him unemployed.
The Limpopo outfit have wasted no time putting out feelers for his successor, with Barker at some stage thought to be the frontrunner despite having a contract that runs until June 2026 with his current bosses Stellies.
Barker is believed to have contemplated jumping ship; however, once the two parties began talking numbers, the interest quickly collapsed.
The Siya crew has been informed that the stumbling block would have been the package Barker put forward in his proposal to take over even though his release clause from Stellenbosch would have been negotiable.
Another coach that came up is Gavin Hunt, who is also yet to put pen to paper on a new deal with SuperSport United. But Hunt told journalists last week that he was keen to stay at Matsatsantsa.
