Bucs' Tinkler wanted in Portugal - report

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates head coach Eric Tinkler has repotedly been earmarked as a potential successor to Quim Machado at Portuguese Primeira Liga side Vitória de Setúbal.

Machado recently left the club by mutual consent after a disappointing campaign - narrowly avoiding the drop by one point, coming 15th in the 18-team division.

According to Portuguese publication Zerozero, the former Setúbal midfielder has already been contacted by the club he made 84 appearances for between 1992 and 1996.

"After the termination of the contract with Quim Machado, Vitoria Setubal are now looking for a quick solution in the coaching department and the solution may be somewhat surprising, in a bolder bet," read a statement in Zerozero.

"Zerozero understands that Eric Tinkler, a former player of the club, was contacted in order to find out if he would be available to take over at the helm."

Tinkler, who led the Buccaneers to the Confederation Cup final, has the chance to win his first silverware as a professional coach when they take on Supersport United in the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday.