Safa have identified Herve Renard and Carlos Queiroz as the two preferred candidates to replace Shakes Mashaba, according to the latest reports circulating in local media. 

Times Media Digital report that former Manchester United assistant manager is leading the race, but his wage demands  for R20-million a year could see Renard appointed as Mashaba’s replacement.

Safa are set to appoint the new head coach by Friday ‘at the very latest’ with ‘salary negotiations and other related contractual discussions’ set be finalised on Wednesday.

Queiroz is out of work after leaving his post as head coach of Iran in January. The Portuguese mentor is one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s most famous assistants and was hired by Safa in October 2000, but left in March 2002 after 24 games in charge. His record as national team coach culminated in a 41% win record.

Renard is a well-travelled coach and has won the Africa Cup of Nations twice, first with Zambia (2012), and before guiding Ivory Coast’s golden generation to the title in 2015.

The new coach will not be given much time ahead of this month’s friendly internationals against Angola and Guinea-Bissau.