Axe hovers over Tinkler’s head

Orlando Pirates head coach Eric Tinkler will in the coming few weeks probably need an effective remedy to pull his side out of the bottom 4 in the ABSA premiership.

Lying 13th on the 16 team log Bucaneers faithfuls appear to have growingly become unsettled with some encouraging the club’s administration to put to an end Tinklers reign as the Pirates coach.

While various shortcomings have been cited among various reasons for Orlando Pirates poor league form, Eric Tinkler will be hugely disappointed by his side’s performance at home.

In 10 league games played so far the Soweto giants have won just one match in front of their home crowd. Orlando Pirates have already lost home matches against Golden Arrows and Bidvest Wits while sharing the spoils in their encounter against Mpumalanga Black Aces. In four home encounters Pirates have lost two, drawn once and bagged maximum points only on one occasion.

So fragile has been the Orlando Pirates defence that they have failed to keep a clean sheet in all their home matches. Having conceded 11 and netted 10 goals the Bucaneers will head into 2016 desperate for more solid performances by their backline. To add to their defensive worries Pirates have not been too clinical in front of goal. In the Bucaneers 10 encounters played so far, the Soweto giants have scored less than they have conceded.

In the run up to the Christmas break Orlando Pirates fans were visibly frustrated by their clubs poor league form as pressure mounted on the Bucaneers technical team.

Amid all the anxiety ahead of the resumption of fixtures, improved performances in the coming weeks will certainly be crucial in determining whether Tinkler’s reign at Pirates goes beyond the 2015/2016 season. Sources close to the club have revealed the Pirates boardroom is assessing the team’s current performances putting pressure on the former Bafana Bafana star to find a winning formula or face the axe.