Vasili Manousakis to answer for Richards Bay’s poor run

This came following the club’s seventh successive DStv Premiership defeat on Saturday, with crosstown rivals Golden Arrows narrowly beating them 1-0 at the King Zwelithini Stadium and overtaking them on the log table.

Manousakis, who shared the responsibility with Pitso Dladla until last month, says he’s feeling the heat.

"It was a shared load and of course now, I feel it more. I think the change was made because the chairman was clear, you know co-coaching when it's going well, there are no issues, everything works. But when it doesn't go well like in our situation, the chairman and management want to know who's accountable and who's going to answer to them," he said.

By the time the boss had restructured the bench, the Natal Rich Boys were already in trouble – and the buck now stops with Manousakis.

"We are not going to change, certainly myself as a coach from our principles, what we believe, how we believe a game should be played. We are trying to get a little bit more organised defensively but it's the other side, to be honest. The goals are not going in, 17 goals in 25 games is not a good record. So, it's no surprise," he added.

The coach believes Richards Bay, at some stage considered candidates for the runners-up spot behind Mamelodi Sundowns, are now playing for safety.

"We just need a couple more games, maybe three or four more points. Try to get to 36 points, just to be safe because that's the reality now. It's funny how football turns, a couple of months ago there were questions about us qualifying for Caf Champions League, the top eight, then now it's let's save ourselves," he concluded.