Pretoria - With the news that three-time PSL winning coach, Gavin Hunt has left SuperSport United to join Wits, the race is on to see who will replace him at the Pretoria-based club.

Kickoff’s website reports that current Platinum Stars coach Cavin Johnson remains the favourite to replace Hunt, this after it has emerged that SuperSport United targeted former Bafana Bafana coach, Carlos Queiroz for the vacancy.

SuperSport have been on the lookout for a new manager for quite some time, knowing full well that Hunt was set to depart for greener pastures, thus making Queiroz, currently coach of Iran, their prime target.

However, the Portuguese-born coach declined their request, leaving Johnson, who guided Platinum Stars to second place in the PSL this season, as the next favoured man for the job.

“Carlos Queiroz turned them down and that's why they have gone for Cavin Johnson,” an unnamed source was quoted as saying.

“Queiroz didn't want to quit his current job as the Iran national team coach to take over at SuperSport.”

However, Johnson denied speculation linking him to the vacant managerial post at SuperSport.

“I'm the Platinum Stars coach and right now I'm preparing for next season. I know nothing about what you are saying. No-one from SuperSport has approached me,” he said.