Mitch: The Real Story
The coaching merry-go-round at the Sharks may have contributed significantly to the drain on the franchise’s financial resources.
This, at least, is the view of John Mitchell, in his recently released autobiography – Mitch: The Real Story.
The former All Black, England assistant, Western Force and Lions coach – in an exclusive interview with rugby365 – explained why he said in his book that he “strongly suspect” the Sharks are running out of money.
High-profile figures like Brendan Venter (now back in an advisory capacity again) and World Cup-winner Jake White have come and gone in quick succession in recent years. They also had to pay John Plumtree, when the New Zealander was shown the exit door before his contract had run its full term.
The most recent acquisition is another former member of a Springbok coach panel, Gary Gold – who will take over as a Director of Rugby in January.
rugby365
Mitchell, who revealed to rugby365 that he is currently not involved in any coaching set-up and will not take up a second term at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Varsity Shield) team, said he was approached by the Sharks to be involved, but they could not afford him.
That follows on the bomb he dropped in his book, when he said he had several offers.
“My next organisation in rugby, if there is to be one, would be an environment where I don’t have to deal with the bullshit that floats around,” Mitchell wrote in his book.
“I have been approached several times during my sabbatical, among them by the Southern Kings. I think there is potential in the team, but it is just not settled enough. I would not enjoy another Western Force or Lions situation.
“In the South African context, the Bulls and the Sharks seem the most stable of the franchises, but I strongly suspect the Sharks are running out of money, which could be problematic for the game in this country.”
Asked to elaborate on the statement about the Sharks, Mitchell said some of the franchise’s financial issues have been splashed in the media.
“Things like the historical spending and stuff like that have been in the media,” he told rugby365, adding: “Obviously there has also been a lot of changes in coaching staff.
“My particular situation was relevant when they were talking to me about potentially running the junior programme.
“The negotiations broke down because they couldn’t afford it at that particular time.”
The controversial figure said he has not spoken to the Sharks since and has also not taken on a second term with the university, the UKZN Impi, either.
“I am right out of rugby at the moment,” he said, adding: “I just have my business, where I am the CEO of a packaging machine manufacturing company.”
He is also involved as an analyst with a South African pay-TV network.
“I have turned down a lot,” he said, adding: “I am not prepared to change my career.
“I have done it [coaching] for 20 years, this [Pietermaritzburg] is my home and this is where my wife lives.
“You never say never, because you can always be part of the right group, or the right opportunity comes along. However, I am certainly going to be more careful going into an organisation than I have previously been.”
Statements like these won’t go down well with the fervent Sharks supporters…
grootblousmile wrote:
Which fervent ones will that be now?
The 7 that actually pitch up at Kings Park on match day, or the 3 that post here?
2 @ nortie:
PLUS the few “Roofkykers” who left here in a huff… hehehe
grootblousmile wrote:
How to market my new book.
Just in time for Christmas.
If Santa brings me that I’ll poison his fecking reindeer.
nortie wrote:
Maybe they don’t have as much time to devote to their blogging career as you do.
😆
Cant help but think this is all a little bit of clever promo work by Mitch just before xmas.
Look at what KPs little saga did for the sales of his new book.
Mitchell is not known for his discretion or self control, maybe he needs to consider that it’s not the Sharks who can’t afford him, but rather that he is too expensive and not worth the money for teh drama he invariably brings with him…..
“He is also involved as an analyst with a South African pay-TV network.”
Bloody farking hell, the world is fu$#ed when a news media outlet/book publisher can’t even be bothered to name DSTV, stupid commercialized bullshit.
@ Stormersboy:
Indeed every coaching position he’s had has ended like a Tarantino movie.
gunther wrote:
Exactly lol
That’s right Mitch.
You haven’t got a job……………………………………….and it’s everyone else’s fault.
Yeah right.
@ cane:
Have you sobered up from that dry fisting we gave your boys in Dubai?
@ gunther:
Normal transmission will continue next year matey… with your boys assuming the position… at least they’re giving you some sort of satisfaction before Christmas… fluffing season.
Leave it to the Big boys for the new year to ram home true Champion status…
Merry Xmas Gunther…. Best wishes to you…From your Maori friend…. Chur
As for Mitchell…. does he really deserve a book…why does he have to put the boot in to one of the few Top Rugby franchises that have offered him employment….
15 @ Te Rangatira:
Because he’s a prat with about as mush interperson skill as an amoeba?
@ cunther:
It is difficult to argue with a 27-Zero pasting Gunna.
So I won’t try.
Well done the Blitzboks. Very well done.
We may have lost The Battle…………………………..but The War is a long way from over.
😉
@ Scrumdown:
That about sums things up pretty nicely.
😉
@ Te Rangatira:
Are any of these Rugby Bio’s actually worth reading?
I think they are all aimed at the person who cannot think what the fu*k to buy Granddad for Xmas.
19 @ cane:
I must admit that I quite enjoyed both John Smit’s, Jake the snake’s and Piet Divvie’s, but I think it was more from a SA perspective than anything else.
The fact that I had been involved with one of SA’s major provincial Unionsserving on their Chaiman’s Council probably helped though, as I have a more direct insight into the sh1t that one has to contend with on a weekly basis than most people.
I can’t ever see myself buying books by people like Mitchell or Oupa Vic though.
@ cane:
Don’t say that.
Nortie loves them. Even if he has to move his lips whilst he reads them.
😆
Speaking if moving your lips whilst you read who can resist this?
Attachment:
gunther wrote:
Too true, I find the Kiwi players write the best books…..huge amounts of boozing and fighting……and sometimes they even write about what happens afterwards when they go to the pub
A rare picture of Fernly…..
Attachment:
@ nortie:
you might be a doos…..
but you are quite a funny doos
😉
@ gunther:
22 lol
@ Charo:
25 Good evening pal and sleep well
@ cane:
Kia ora Cane, I haven’t read any Rugby bios of late. The last one I actually read was Buck Shelford and then I can’t remember much. Super Sid was good, but the one I really enjoyed was George Nepia, kinda captured the hardship and sacrafices those old fullahs went through bacvk in those days and on the Invincibles Tour, his turning to Rugby League to make a dollar and his inability to tour SA….
@ Te Rangatira:
Hi TR, Mitchell’s book is actually very good, if read in the whole.
It covers his youth, playing days and obviously his coaching.
It’s not accurate enough to only highlight one small part and then have people comment and make a decision on the merits of the book.
I generally steer clear of the “scoops” in the media before a book launch and willfully ignore those, I would rather buy the book and read it and then decide whether it was worth it or not.
Because I collect rugby biographies, I don’t really have a choice when a new one is published, I have to buy it in any case.
Getting the older ones still needed is more fun 😆
@ nortie:
Hi Nortie, so you’re one of those collectors… It has been awhile since I read a Rugby bio…Actually I’ve only read half a dozen or so and the only one that was from a non Kiwi was Mervyn Davies. I treasure a couple though that have been signed however. One being from a Legend of the club I grew up in, Mark Graham, a Rugby League hero of mine… Take care mate….
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