Ajax Cape Town have accepted their NFD fate but vow to be back in the PSL next season.
The Urban Warriors on Friday raised the white flag in the Ndorogate saga.
This after they withdrew their interdict to stop the start of the league campaign last Thursday in the South Gauteng High Court.
COMMITTED: Muhsin Ertugral. Photo: RYAN WILKISKY/BACKPAGEPIX
The PSL were then given leave to appeal Judge Denise Fisher’s ruling that put Ajax back in 15th following a Safa arbitration process that relegated them over the ineligibility of Tendai Ndoro.
Ajax CEO Ari Efstathiou looked emotional as he addressed reporters, having finally thrown in the towel after six months of battling for justice.
He says: “We said we would fight to the last – and we did.
“Unfortunately, time is against us – now we have to try and navigate our way through the NFD.
“There will be changes and financial implications, but we will endeavour to fight back.”
The vultures are circling around star players like skipper Mosa Lebusa, Grant Margeman and Brandon Peterson.
One man who is crucially going nowhere is coach Muhsin Ertugral, who committed to guide the club to promotion.
Efstathiou says: “Muhsin is committed. He came in late last season, so it’s important that we have continuity.
“We will be forced to transfer some of our top players in order to balance the books – and then we will also look to reinforce the squad.
“We will have to think about it carefully and make sure we have the right balance in the squad to reach our objective of immediate promotion to the PSL.”