Wanderers deal pulls PSL back from the brink

A deal struck by attorneys representing relegated African Wanderers and the PSL early on Tuesday put on hold attempts by the club to apply for a High Court interdict to prevent the new season from getting off the ground as scheduled on Wednesday.

Wanderers chairperson Alfred Ndlovu confirmed on Tuesday night that their attorney Themba Langa had sent letters to the PSL on Monday night informing them of the club's intention to seek a High Court interdict at noon on Tuesday to stop the league from proceeding.

"I gathered that the PSL attorneys and Langa discussed the matter at length yesterday and eventually agreed to postpone the court action, at least until after an arbitrator had sat in judgment over ours and Celtic's cases today," said Ndlovu.

Langa also confirmed that after serving the PSL attorney Alex Abercrombie with notice of intent to apply for a high Court interdict, they agreed to discuss the matter and finally agreed to go the arbitration route today.

"We raised our fears that should the league proceed without my clients, they might refuse to bring them on board," said Langa. "But they assured us that, in principle, whatever the court decides, they will abide by the ruling.

"So that opened the way for us to agree to go for arbitration today and the case will be handled by Arbitrator Clive Cohen this morning," said Langa.The 2001/2002 season will therefore proceed with four Castle League fixtures on Wednesday.

Dave Beasley SC postponed Monday night's arbitration involving Celtic until Wednesday and, according to PSL spokesperson Andrew Dipela, following consultations, the parties involved agreed that a new arbitrator be appointed.

A confident Dipela allayed fears that the league might grind to a halt and said league action would go ahead as planned today. Wanderers had threatened to interdict the league from getting off the ground, but Dipela said there were proper structures to resolve disputes.

"Let us allow the processes of disputes to take place in order to find solutions," said Dipela. "But it is incorrect to hold the league to ransom. My appeal is: let us play and if anything comes out of the arbitration, we will abide by his ruling."

While Wanderers are contesting the constitutionality of the PSL, Celtic are demanding that the decision of the PSL disciplinary committee, which found them guilty of fielding a suspended player against Bush Bucks and fined them R75 000, should stand.

The PSL appealed against this ruling, and the appeal board reversed the decision, fined Celtic R20 000 and docked them three points, which resulted in the team dropping to the lower division.

Today's decision by Cohen SC will decide whether the new season will proceed with either 18 or 20 teams.