Bash and Reece 'take over'
The Sharks confirmed that Grant Bashford and Hugh-Reece Edwards will take charge of the team for the remainder of the Super Rugby season.
This follows the dramatic and sudden departure of head coach John Plumtree on Tuesday.
Plumtree's exit followed a meeting with new Sharks CEO John Smit.
The initial media release by the Sharks did not reveal who would take charge of the team for the remainder of the season.
However, that was all cleared up on Wednesday.
"With the exception of John Plumtree, the Sharks coaching structure will remain unchanged for the remainder of the Super Rugby tournament," a statement from the board of the Sharks (Pty) Ltd said.
"Assistant coaches Grant Bashford and Hugh-Reece Edwards will assume the main coaching responsibilities for our remaining three games."
The Sharks host the Blues at Kings Park on Saturday.
Plumtree's departure has left as many questions as answers.
Some media reports suggested that Plumtree's legal team would insist that he be paid out for the two-year contract extension he had reportedly been promised by outgoing CEO Brian van Zyl.
This followed the recent announcement by Van Zyl's successor, Smit, that the New Zealand-born coach's contract would not be renewed.
The Sharks confirmed that discussions were held between representatives of Plumtree and the union on Tuesday and that it was mutually and amicably agreed to part ways with immediate effect.
However, the terms of the agreement concluded were said to be confidential.
While unconfirmed reports have surfaced that Brad MacLeod-Henderson would be named head coach for the upcoming Currie Cup campaign and he was indeed seen at training sessions this week, it is now clear Bashford and Reece-Edwards will be in charge for the next few weeks.
The squad trained under assistant coaches Hugh Reece-Edwards and Grant Bashford and the duo seem set to share the duties for Saturday's home clash with the Blues.
Sharks captain Keegan Daniel also said he and his teammates remain fully focused on Saturday's encounter and their on-field preparation.
