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Cape Town - Former Kaizer Chiefs coach Sergio dos Santos has suggested that Stuart Baxter left the Glamour Boys because the squad was in decline after an era of success.
Baxter won multiple trophies during his time at Naturena and is widely considered one of the most successful coaches in the club's recent history.
Dos Santos, who coached Chiefs in 1993 for a short spell, believes that the 63-year-old departed Naturena as not enough was done by management to improve an ageing squad.
"One question that needs to be answered is this: a player like Siphiwe Tshabalala is coming to the end of his career, 'Yeye' (Reneilwe Letsholonyane) has left," he told Soccer Laduma.
"We must look at how many players were left with Baxter ... I suspect that it was the backbone of the squad. I don't think that things are as bad as they seem, but there is tremendous pressure on the squad because of what a big brand Chiefs is.
"We must look and ask if the youngsters there are good enough to take on the mantle. In that respect, I am seeing a similar situation to the one Chiefs were faced with in 1995 in that they need to rebuild the squad. Maybe we must ask: Did Baxter smell a rat and is that why he left the ship?"
Since leaving Amakhosi, the English-born coach has won the Nedbank Cup with SuperSport United in 2016.
