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Pretoria - Under-fire Bulls coach Nollis Marais believes he still has the backing of the franchise's board despite there being increased pressure on him to deliver results.
The Bulls were poor once more on Saturday as they fell to a 17-10 loss to the Highlanders at Loftus despite having a great opportunity to win against 14 men.
The result means that the Bulls have now lost seven of their 10 fixtures in 2017, and Marais is being made to talk about his future at almost every press conference he attends.
Following the Highlanders loss, the Bulls sent out a release saying that they were implementing a structured turnaround plan to get things back on track and that they would seek the help of experts from outside the union.
Then, there was a report in Afrikaans newspaper Rapport that the Bulls were eyeing up a move for former coach Heyneke Meyer.
It all suggests that Marais needs results, and quickly, but when speaking after Saturday's loss he expressed faith in his players and in the board's support of him.
"I fully believe in all the youngsters and the players we have in the squad," he said.
"The youngsters showed how good and eager they are to play.
"I believe that I've had the backing of the board from day one. I still believe they back me. Obviously I know it's not been a good season and a decision needs to be made."
Marais added that he would accept whatever came his way.
"As I've said previously, the board appointed me to 2018 and I've always said the youngsters will come through," he said.
"Obviously the season has not gone how we had hoped and I would respect the board's decision, whatever decision they take."
The Bulls take on the Lions this weekend in Johannesburg.
