Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela appeared to admit he was on his way out of Naturena at the end of the season on Saturday, sparking immediate speculation about who could be his successor.
Speaking after his side's 1-0 win over bottom club Platinum Stars, Komphela appeared to suggest that his departure was a foregone conclusion, just as Chiefs say they will only make a decision at the end of the season.
"As I go out I must thank everybody, the pressure that you receive makes you a better person. God is preparing me for another challenge, be it outside of football or in the game," he told reporters.
There has been media speculation for some time that his contract would not be renewed when it expires at the end of the season, and performances on the pitch suggest that will be the case. KweséESPN looks at five coaches who could be in the frame to take over at Naturena.
ERIC TINKLER
Tinkler is out of work since leaving SuperSport United in early March, where his burgeoning reputation as a coach was tarnished somewhat.
Chiefs owner Kaizer Motaung is known to prefer foreign coaches, despite hiring Komphela for the last three seasons, an experience that will likely not have endeared him to the thought of putting another South African in charge.
Tinkler has great experience of the local game and is a methodical worker, known for his attention to detail and having his sides excellently prepared for matches.
After spending a number of years as an assistant coach at Bidvest Wits and then Orlando Pirates, he was handed the reins of the latter on a caretaker basis for what turned out to be 18 months, leading them to the 2015 CAF Confederation Cup final.
He took over at newly-formed Cape Town City in the 2016-17 season and worked wonders there, taking them to third in the championship and to victory in the Telkom Knockout, reigniting a number of flagging careers along the way.
He jumped ship to SuperSport at the start of the campaign, but despite winning the MTN8 and leading them to the Confederation Cup final as well, he quit in March, suggesting he had lost the trust of the players.
RUUD KROL
Krol has been looking for a return to South Africa's Premier Soccer League for some time having previously won six trophies in three seasons at Chiefs' Soweto rivals Orlando Pirates.
The former Dutch international has spent much of his time since then in Tunisia, including a brief spell in charge of their national side in the final stages of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
He would certainly bring great know-how and knowledge of South African football, and the Chiefs job is the kind of profile that would suit him.
It would also be a good link-up with Hutting as the two would have similar philosophies on how the game should be played.
LUC EYMAEL
The Belgian has already had to deny on occasions this season that he had been approached for the Chiefs job, while he has also been linked to SuperSport United.
He has worked wonders at Free State Stars this season, turning them from relegation candidates to at one stage title contenders, while he was also lauded for the work he did at Polokwane City last season before he walked out on the club.
Chiefs could face competition from SuperSport, who come with a bigger budget, but perhaps not the allure for a coach like Eymael.
He will get another chance to impress his prospective new employers when Chiefs host Stars in the Nedbank Cup semifinals in Durban on Saturday.
ROB HUTTING
The Dutch coach is currently technical director at Chiefs, so it would be a small leap into the dugout for the 62-year-old.
Hutting was a left-field pick for the role in January, tasked with improving standards at the club in terms of the first team and the junior setup, and has been quietly working in the background since.
By June he will have had six months to get to know and understand South African football, as well as the players at Chiefs.
He is certainly qualified, with a UEFA Pro licence, but has previously coached in the lower leagues in Netherlands and Germany.
NIKOLA KAVAZOVIC
Another name that keeps popping up in relation to the Chiefs job, the Serbian has been excellent in turning around the fortunes of Botswana Premier League side Township Rollers and guiding them to a first ever place in the CAF Champions League group stages.
The 42-year-old's travels have been extensive, having coached at national team level in Tajikistan and Sri Lanka, as well as club sides in the Maldives and at home in Serbia.
Reports out of Botswana on Monday suggested he would be the man to take over from Komphela, though Kavazovic has himself previously denied any contact, but left the door open for Chiefs to come head-hunting.