Ghana duo Edwin Gyimah and Kwabena Adusei at Mpumalanga Black Aces have coach Clive Barker sacked

Mpumalanga Black Aces have sacked coach Clive Barker, the man who signed Ghana duo Edwin Gyimah and Kwabean Adusei to the club.

Barker has managed just one victory since the beginning of December.

The tactician took over at AmaZayoni in 2013 and managed to lead the club to a respectable seventh-placed finish in the Premiership last season.

However, Aces have since suffered a major dip in form and find themselves 13th in the top-flight standings, just one point clear of the relegation zone with eight games remaining this season.

"Clive Barker is both a terrific person and coach who we regard with the highest respect and we have offered him a new 2-year role going forward. Sadly given the results not coming our way we were forced into changing the helm of the team," said Aces chairman Mario Morfou.

"We value Clive Barker and believe he has a more critical role to play to the benefit of Aces. Our academy and feeder PSL reserve 'Diski' team as well as crucial scouting remains our future and we firmly believe that Barker will be best suited to head this role."

Current technical director Jacob Sakala will take up the role as caretaker head coach with immediate effect, meaning he will oversee Saturday's home clash against Moroka Swallows.