Adnan Beganovic has confirmed his talks with Richards Bay FC over the vacant coaching position collapsed because the project did not meet his standards. The Bosnian tactician said he will not accept a job merely to return to the Premier Soccer League, leaving the club to appoint Bulgarian Dimitar Pantev earlier this month.

Richards Bay FC, currently 14th with just three points from seven games, had identified Beganovic as a potential candidate to reverse their fortunes. Negotiations between the two parties advanced to a late stage but ultimately reached a stalemate. Beganovic emphasized that any move had to represent a significant step forward in his career, with the right vision, structure, and timing being non-negotiable factors.

"I don’t want to take a job for the sake of returning to the PSL," Beganovic said. He had also held discussions with Sekhukhune United before they appointed Cedric Kaze, indicating his desire for a serious project. The coach stressed that financial considerations, project clarity, and ambition from the club were all elements that can prevent a deal from being completed.

Beganovic outlines his ambitions

The former TS Galaxy boss believes he still has much to offer South African football after spending over four years in the country. He pointed to his work developing young players and building a team with a clear identity during his tenure. "I have worked very hard to build my career, and I want my next decision to be an important step forward," Beganovic stated. He added that the PSL remains attractive to him because he understands the league and knows what it takes to compete.

His departure from TS Galaxy came just two weeks before they lost the Nedbank Cup final 2-1 to Durban City, with chairman Tim Sukazi making the change with five league games left. Bernard Parker took over as assistant coach and led the team for the remainder of that campaign.

Context for Richards Bay

Richards Bay's search for a new coach comes amid a difficult start to the season. The team's recent form reads three consecutive defeats and two draws, including a 2-3 home loss to Sekhukhune United on 19 September. They have conceded 16 goals while scoring only nine, leaving them 17 points behind league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns. Top scorer Nqaba Xulu has netted five times in seven appearances, a rare bright spot in a struggling campaign.

The club now turns to Pantev to steer them away from trouble, with a daunting next fixture against the table-topping Sundowns at home on 17 October. Fans can check the full schedule on the fixtures page as the team looks to climb from the relegation zone. The first-team squad details and league standings show the scale of the task facing the new coach.

More detail at Goal.com