Newly-appointed SuperSport United coach Eric Tinkler understands the frustration of former boss John Comitis after jumping ship from Cape Town City to Matsatsantsa.

Tinkler was unveiled by SuperSport at a press conference on Thursday, with the club revealing that the former Orlando Pirates mentor will officially take over the reins from Stuart Baxter on 1 July, after signing a three-year deal.

The Citizens owners admitted that he was left blindsided by Tinkler’s decision to leave the club, and the former Afcon-winning Bafana Bafana midfielder says he can’t blame Comitis for his reaction.

‘You can’t really blame him‚’ Tinkler told TMG Digital. ‘We had a successful season. A very good season. It was important for me to make a quick decision for both clubs.

‘I couldn’t dwell on the decision. I had to make it as quick as possible. It happened in a very short space of time.

‘Obviously that disappointed him. But that was always going to happen. John’s been in the game for many‚ many years. As much as I have been‚ if not longer.

‘These are things that happen in the game. I would like to believe that my relationship with him is going to be strong. I know that my relationship with the people at the club is still going to be strong.

‘But it’s never good losing your coach. You heard that even from Stan Matthews. It’s just a harsh reality,’ he added.

Tinkler also revealed what made him decide to trade in the colours of Cape Town City for SuperSport.

‘It’s the success and the ambition of the club that lured me here. Not to say that Cape Town City are not ambitious. Don’t get me wrong.

‘They are an extremely ambitious club and they have an ambitious boss in John Comitis. But I think that for the progress of my career‚ this was a great move.

‘You see the progress of guys like Gavin Hunt and Pitso Mosimane. Pitso started here and look at where he has gone. I don’t want to emulate them. I want to better them if possible,’ he added.

Photo: Aubrey Kgakatsi/BackpagePix