After returning from his period of compassionate leave in South Africa, Heyneke Meyer announced on Wednesday that he will no longer coach the English club Leicester Tigers.
“It is with deep regret that we accept Heyneke’s resignation because he has an outstanding record of achievement in his career, everyone was very supportive of him here and we could all sense success with him as head coach,” Tigers chairman Peter Tom told the club’s website.
“But Heyneke found himself in a very difficult situation and we fully understand the reasons for his decision to remain in South Africa.”
The 41-year-old Meyer signed a three-year contract in June last year, replacing Argentine Marcelo Loffreda, after leading the Bulls to the Super 14 title in 2007 – the first triumph by a South African side in the southern hemisphere’s leading competition.
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The Leicester Tigers have decided to give Heyneke Meyer one more week to decide about his future at the club.
Meyer, who arrived at Welford Road at the start of the season, has returned home to South Africa to be with his wife’s parents, who are both seriously ill.
Club chairman Peter Tom had originally set last Sunday as the date to resolve the matter by, but chief executive Peter Wheeler has said Meyer has asked for more time.
Wheeler went on to stress that the club would not rush their head coach in such testing circumstances.
“I have spoken to Heyneke and his situation is still very difficult from a medical point of view,” Wheeler told The Leicester Mercury..
“I have said to him, ‘let’s give it another week’. If that is helpful to him, that is what we will do.”
Wheeler said that the Tigers board would discuss the way forward at next week’s scheduled meeting.
“We will, hopefully, have all of the information in place by then and be able to reach a decision,” he said.
“I have said to Heyneke that I will speak to him this weekend because we have got plenty on our plate this week (Tigers play the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup pool decider).
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Today is decision day for former Bulls coach Heyneke Meyer and the Leicester Tigers about his future with the English club. It seems likely that Meyer will not return to the Tigers.
The Afrikaans newspaper Rapport reports that the concession of the British club for Meyer to return home on compassionate grounds – both his wife’s parents are seriously ill – expires on Sunday, according to Rapport.
Meyer, who has an outstanding record with the Bulls and Blue Bulls, started coaching with Leicester this season. He has made a huge impact on the top English club and his departure for South Africa undoubtedly upset their planning.
The newspaper reports that Meyer was not prepared to discuss his decision, except to say that he will pursue the matter with Peter Wheeler, CEO of Leicester, in the week.
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Speculation in the media this weekend that Heyneke Meyer might be linked for a position at the Eastern Cape Super 14 franchise the Southern Spears is nothing more than premature speculation.
Weekend reports suggested that Meyer was being considered for the position of Director of Rugby for the franchise formerly known as the Southern Spears.
However, this has been dismissed as “premature speculation” by a source close to Meyer, who said the coach will not make a decision about his future until his current situation is resolved.
Meyer returned to South Africa during the busy United Kingdom festive season because of serious family illness.
In a media release at the time the Board of Leicester Tigers said it respects Meyer’s position and the club offers him and his family its full support.
“The extent of his absence will be assessed over the next two weeks and kept under review,” the statement said.
Meyer’s future at Tigers was thrown further in doubt after club chairman Peter Tom confirmed that he was unsure when, or if, the South African would be returning. Tom, at the time, suggested that Meyer would not be back before February at the very earliest.
The Leicester chairman, Tom, conceded the situation “put a doubt” over Meyer continuing with the club which he only joined before the start of this season following the departure of former Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda.
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