Sharks assistant coaches Grant Bashford and Hugh-Reece Edwards will take over coaching duties until the end of the Super Rugby season after John Plumtree left on Tuesday by mutual agreement.
The Sharks said on Wednesday the pair would be in temporary charge for the Durban-based Sharks’ remaining three games.
Brendan Venter was set to join as director of rugby ahead of the Currie Cup.
Plumtree’s exit as head coach came sooner than the Sharks had planned, giving incoming chief executive and former South Africa captain John Smit a difficult start even before he officially begins his new role on Monday.
Smit opted not to renew Plumtree’s contract, but news of the decision leaked out and Plumtree reportedly first found out in the media that he would be let go.