There is a lot of anxiety amongst lower division teams as uncertainty abounds with regards the PSL slot left by How Mine FC who surrendered their franchise on Wednesday, despite the PSL emergency committee resolving to give the slot to Harare City.

In a statement released Thursday, the PSL confirmed the official withdrawal of the gold miners, who give up their franchise after the company decided to concentrate on other corporate social responsibility programmes.

“The PSL emergency committee resolved to replace How Mine FC with Harare City, who finished 15th on the table last season. In the event that Harare City are unable to take up the slot left by How Mine, the team that finished on position 16 will be considered,” said the PSL in a statement.

However, Harare mayor Ben Manyenyeni, who last season fumed at the huge budget allocated to the football team at the expense of service delivery, said his position regarding the team had not changed, an indication that its return to the PSL was not guaranteed.

He also said his office had not been formally approached by anyone regarding taking over the How Mine franchise.

“My sentiments are well known; we are not in the business of bloated budgets for football. It’s an embarrassing allocation of very scarce resources,” said Manyenyeni yesterday.

Meanwhile, sources say Eastern Region Division One side Manica Diamonds and their Southern Region counterparts Makomo are looking to take over the franchise in the event that Harare City and Hwange failed to do so.