Kickoff (Cape Town)
8 January 2009
Has Orlando Pirates assistant coach Ian Palmer thrown in the towel?
Rudi Krol's number two has been away from his duties at the club since the beginning of the year raising speculation that he could have already relinquished his duties at the club. This is despite the Buccaneers currently enjoying a purple patch.
Pirates' official Floyd Mbele insists that Palmer has merely requested time off from the club, however other sources at Parktown North inform KickOff.com that the former Bucs' striker has already resigned.
"Ian has requested to have time off to attend to personal issues. I don't know what kind of matters he is attending to because they are personal. But he comes back to work on January 19," says Mbele.
Strangely Mbele's latest statement contradicts what he told KickOff.com previously when questioned about Palmer's absence.
"Ian is off-sick and it is a personal thing. He is not well. I don't know when he will be back as that will be based on what his doctors say.
"If Ian is not feeling well, that is a personal issue for which I don't have to say what is troubling him. But he is at home recovering," Mbele had said.
According to KickOff.com's informant Palmer handed his letter of resignation to management before Christmas.
The source said that Palmer, who has been head coach of FC AK and Maritzburg United in the past, felt "it wasn't conducive for him to continue working under a difficult man like Krol even though the team has been playing well".
Efforts to get in touch with Palmer at the time of compiling this report proved futile as his phone rang unanswered before going on voicemail.
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