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Cape Town - Maritzburg United have parted ways with their second coach this season after news emerged that Clive Barker had left the club.
The 1996 Africa Cup of Nations winning coach had taken over from Mandla Ncikazi on September 25, and has only been in charge for six league matches.
It appeared that Maritzburg under Barker may have turned the corner - their last two results a 1-0 win at Tuks and then a 1-1 draw at home against champions Kaizer Chiefs.
But the Team of Choice are still bottom of the table, with just five points from 11 fixtures.
And, says chairman Farouk Kadodia, the pressure just took its toll.
"It leaves us with a lot of soul-searching to do," Kadodia told Sport24 on Tuesday.
"We all sat together ... something is wrong. The truth is that we have played 11 games and we have five points. We need to do whatever it takes."
Kadodia said that Barker, 71, himself had felt the pressure of the job "was heavy".
The timing of the decision does allow Maritzburg a few weeks to find their new coach, with their next fixture on December 20 at Platinum Stars.
But the process is not an easy one, says Kadodia.
"All of the good guys are already in good jobs," he said.
"At the end of the day we need football that is going to get results."
Maritzburg had their best ever PSL finish last season - 8th - under then-coach Steve Komphela.
