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Ray Jennings out of a job?

Cape Town - Despite leading the South African under-19 cricket side to the World Cup title against Pakistan on Saturday, coach Ray Jennings may soon be out of a job.

Cricket SA (CSA) CEO Haroon Lorgat has announced on Monday it would be restructuring the coaching role and Jennings was welcome to apply for the position.

"In spite of the success that Ray brings home, we are going to restructure the under-19 position," said Lorgat at Newlands during the lunch break of the Cape Town Test between South Africa and Australia.

"We've decided to split the role between the coach that will specifically focus on development from the under-13 black African programme ... Then we are going to ... appoint a second person to deal with the academy programmes.

"The focus will be on players coming from semi-pro, moving into the franchise level and all the way up to the Proteas."

Jennings said he was concerned his job was not secure, despite the results the team produced under his leadership.

"It does worry me a little bit. I haven't moved around the world as a coach," said Jennings.

"I've been very loyal to South Africa. Hopefully the South African structure can look at me and say I'm making a difference. But then again when people don't want you, what do you do? You just have to pack up and move on."

Jennings, however, said he would apply for the job in the hopes CSA retained his services.

"I am the coach, but there is a job opportunity for me to apply for in the next two months.

"Then it will be up to Cricket South Africa to see if they want to hire me.

"If I apply for the job, hopefully I will get the job."

On the players in his side, Jennings said they had the potential to play for the Proteas in the coming years.

"My job is to capture the top 15 or 20 players to make sure we have the right guys to go into the world cup and win it.

"We really gave everybody at the tournament a hiding. It is a group of 15 players that can become Proteas pretty quickly."

Jennings confirmed no player in the squad had been signed by one of the South African franchises.

Captain of the team, Aiden Markram, said winning the title was important in the development of the players.

"The final for each one of us was a big experience," said Markram.

"To be able to compete at that level was a massive learning curve. Defeat didn't really cross our minds and we were very positive the whole time.

"Winning the final and lifting the trophy was big."

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