SAFA announced last week that the position of CEO will soon be advertised and be filled either in April or at the latest May. However, Oliphant said Jordaan will remain until after the September AGM.

"Only then will we look at filling the position but as things stand, there is no rush and Jordaan will remain in the post," Oliphant said this week.

Jordaan has been appointed CEO of the local organising committee (LOC) for the 2010 FIFA World Cup but will assume duty only after the the September AGM.

"There is no rush for Danny to leave his office at SAFA. Our year ends in September when we hold our AGM. Our financial year ends in June and moving out now will create logistical problems. He can't leave mid-stream and have a new person on the position," explained the SAFA president.

The announcement should come as a relief to those who were alarmed after news that Jordaan was to leave in May. It should also - for the time being - put to rest the speculation on who Jordaan's successor will be.

The name of former CEO Albert Mokoena was mentioned as one of the candidates in a daily newspaper.

Oli, as the SAFA president is affectionately known, also reiterated what was said by FIFA president Sepp Blatter during his visit to SA last week and by President Thabo Mbeki - that the LOC - and names of individuals - that have been given to both the SA government and FIFA, is only a temporary measure.

Oliphant said: "If you look carefully at our organogram, you will realise that there are a lot of positions that need to be filled. We need to populate the organogram with real people. But there is no rush to do this and it might only happen after September."

The president also revealed that beside the LOC, his organisation would form a sizeable "advisory board". A number of African football icons will serve on this board, as Blatter recommended.

SAFA has already left two seats within the LOC to be filled by CAF.

Oliphant was full of praise for Jordaan as an administrator, saying that his appointment to the position of CEO for the LOC has alleviated fears of the structure under-performing.

"Danny is vastly experienced on matters concerning the World Cup, having worked in Korea and Japan in 2002. He will gain more experience from the Germany FIFA World Cup next year.

"I will also be working at next year's World Cup as I am part of the FIFA World Cup Committee and I also hope to gain invaluable experience," Oliphant said.

Since returning to SAFA, in November, Jordaan has already raised a R35 million sponsorship from First National Bank and is said to be about to announce another huge sponsorship from oil giant Sasol.

Many SAFA staff members who had registered their concern at the fact that Jordaan was to be removed from the association just when he was turning things around, must be relieved at Oliphant's announcement.

The announcement that the LOC is still to be enlarged and an advisory board appointed should also ensure that others in the football fraternity, such as Jomo Cosmos owner Jomo Sono and Mamelodi Sundowns boss Patrice Motsepe, who were not on the previous structure, could still be appointed.

from News24.com