New SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt admits the club needs to act fast with a plethora of free agents available ahead of the new season.
Amid all the end-of-season clearouts, more than 50 professional footballers have been left without clubs in the DStv Premiership, with the likes of Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Sekhukhune United, Maritzburg United, AmaZulu making whole-sale changes to their squads.
The likes of former Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo, who won the league with Hunt at the now-defunct Bidvest Wits, is one of the several players available on the market and while he stopped short of name-dropping, he admitted signings will be needed to be concluded swiftly.
“If, like any football team, we’re always going to need something here and there. Well, one of the parts of the discussions going forward [were the free agents available]. Because the longer we leave it, things get moving and your time [to sign players] get shorter,” Hunt said.
“I really don’t have much time with the team as you know the first game is on 5 August, so we’re less than four weeks when you should have a good six to seven weeks where you can really have a look, so yeah it’s dragged out a little bit here and there but it’s still giving me confidence.
“Obviously it’s easier for me [than others] knowing the league, who’s available, how and what we need but certainly I’ll look at the team quite closely.”
CEO Stan Matthews confirmed Grant Margeman joined the club on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns already and four or five more will be unveiled within the next two weeks after consulting Hunt.
