World Cup-winning manager Jake White has confirmed that he will step down from his role with South Africa when his contract expires at the end of December, blaming a fractious relationship with the country's rugby administrators.

White, 43, told a news conference that his final games in charge will be the one-off Test against Wales on November 24 and a match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on December 1. The South African Rugby Union announced on Monday that a shortlist of four had been drawn up to succeed White and that he had been excluded because he had not re-applied for his job.

"I heard from board members that there were certain people who said that the relationship wasn't healthy and someone has to go and the board members and the [union] presidents aren't going to go," said White.

"I'm really disappointed with the way they have treated me and the way they have handled the process. My performance has not been reviewed and it says in my contract that I did not have to re-apply for the position - but they have used the fact that I didn't apply as a cop-out for not putting me on the shortlist."

South Africa were ranked a lowly sixth in the world when White took over in 2004 but he quickly turned their fortunes around, guiding the country to victory in the Tri Nations for the first time since 1998, an achievement that earned him the accolade of IRB Coach of the Year.

Consistency eluded the team the following year, however, and White's popularity dipped as he selections attracted stinging criticism. That intensified in 2006 after a record 49-0 defeat by Australia. In November last year he was recalled in the middle of a European tour to face a vote of no confidence and has often described the Springbok job as the toughest in rugby.

However, having reversed the apparent decline and steered South Africa to World Cup victory, White is now a sought-after coach. He has already been linked with jobs coaching England, Australia, Wales and Ireland, but admitted he has not applied for any jobs as yet.