Ernst Middendorp has left Durban City FC just three months into his new position, amid reports of an irreconcilable working relationship with head coach Gavin Hunt.
In a surprising move, Middendorp’s return to the KZN club coincided with the arrival of Hunt ahead of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.
The two appointments were met with scepticism by many, who believed that pairing the most outspoken figures in local football would be a recipe for disaster.
Durban City, formerly Maritzburg United, positioned the German’s role as being strictly non-coaching, focusing instead on the technical development of the club, encompassing youth structures, scouting, and shaping the club’s long-term football philosophy.
DURBAN CITY OPT TO KEEP HUNT
According to a club source, Middendorp allegedly complained to management, stating he was unable to work effectively with the head coach.
In a definitive move, the club’s management chose to back Hunt, effectively giving the German coach his walking papers. Middendorp reportedly left the club a week ago and has not been involved in any club activities since.
Durban City FC chairman Farook Kadodia confirmed Middendorp’s exit, adding he had completed his mandate and left the club. “He was on a three-month contract, and it has come to an end,” Kadodia told FARPost.
The timing of the separation comes as Durban City FC enjoys a successful start to their top-flight campaign under the veteran mentor Hunt. The team is currently placed fourth on the Betway Premiership table, an impressive start for a newly promoted side. Their run includes four wins, three draws, and only two losses against Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United from their opening nine matches.
Middendorp’s brief tenure with the KZN side followed a turbulent two-season spell at Cape Town Spurs. In the 2023/24 season, he was unable to save the club from relegation from the Betway Premiership.
In the subsequent 2024/25 Motsepe Foundation Championship season, he guided them to a 15th-place finish with six wins, 12 draws, and 12 losses, condemning the club previously known as Ajax Cape Town to the amateur ranks of the ABC Motsepe League.
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