TTM under coach Lucky Nelukau have completely fluffed their lines in the PSL Promotion/Relegation Playoffs having lost all three of their matches so far, thus ending their chance of promotion.
Having lost 3-2 to Ajax Cape Town in their first match, then 3-1 to Black Leopards and then 5-1 to The Urban Warriors this afternoon, TTM will remain in the GladAfrica Championship next season.
Of course, they will no longer be known as TTM after being sold to the owners of current ABC Motsepe League side African All Stars, who are set to rename the club Sekhukhune United.
There had been suggestions the new owners would have had to pay more than the reported R10-million if TTM had won promotion to the top-flight via the playoffs.
"There are things we discussed and agreed with the buyer because remember he bought an NFD status, so it's common sense [if we had won promotion], he knows the status would not have been the same," TTM communications manager Tshidino Ndou tells snl24.com/kickoff.
"Of course there are agreements in place, and with regards to that I cannot go into detail, but all is in order in that department. They haven't taken over [yet]. Remember the status is for next season.
"They cannot do anything now because we only sold them the status for next season. The league will only end after the playoffs, then they take over. Remember it's not us but the PSL wants us to finish all the games."
Ndou believes owner Lawrence Mulaudzi's acquisition of Bidvest Wits' status is what inspired their players to perform as they did in the regular NFD season, so there is no regret.
"Not at all," he says. "We don't regret anything because if we didn't buy [Wits], the players wouldn't be as serious as they are right now.
"Because they are playing for their contracts, they want to please the new owner, and they want to please us as the old owners who will be in the PSL next season, as simple as that."
Back in the playoffs Ajax and Leopards, both on six points, now face off in a huge clash on Friday knowing that a win for the latter would confirm Lidoda Duvha's stay in the top-flight.
A win for Ajax, however, would put the pressure on Leopards to win their final match against TTM by a big margin, while a draw with Ajax would mean Leopards would only need a point in their final match.
