Mains resigns from Golden Lions coaching role
Johannesburg
October 25, 2000

Former All Black coach Laurie Mains has resigned as coach of South African province, the Golden Lions, blaming interference from administrators.

Mains will remain as coach of the Cats Super 12 side until the end of the 2001 season.

``The reason for my decision is the management style of Ellis Park and their constant interference and undermining of the team since they took control of professional rugby,'' said Mains in a statement on Wednesday.

``For the team management it has been impossible to maintain the focus, commitment and motivation to function effectively.

``Sadly, 2000 has been a traumatic experience for all of us at the Lions.''

Mains was appointed at the start of 1999 and immediately led the Lions to the Currie Cup title but saw his team knocked out of this year's competition at the semifinal stage on Saturday.

Mains avoided naming names but was clearly alluding in his statement to the influence of controversial former SARFU president Louis Luyt.

Earlier this year Luyt admitted bugging Mains' telephone and that of other Lions officials in an on-going power struggle over the control of player contracts.

Although Luyt holds no official position within the union he is chairman of the trust which controls the union's ground and finances. Mains had one year left on a three-year contract with the union.

On October 5, Lions president Jomo King denied he had agreed to sack Mains at the end of the season after Luyt issued a statement saying that Mains's contract would be terminated.

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