Latest: Royal AM players request to be released

The KwaZulu-Natal outfit is currently under curatorship appointed by the South African Revenue Services [SARS] to recoup a R40-million tax debt linked to businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize, who owns the team.

As reported by the public broadcaster earlier this week, Royal AM have also since confirmed they are yet to pay December salaries to players and staff due to recent developments.

In an effort to secure their future income, it’s understood some players – especially those who are in the higher earning bracket at the club – have requested to be released in order to seek employment elsewhere.

A clearance would effectively mean termination of their existing contract agreements with Thwihli Thwahla to become free agents, unless other Premier Soccer League [PSL] teams are willing to pay a transfer fee for their services.

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SABC Sport is not in a position to reveal names at this stage as information has been provided on condition of anonymity. 

Royal AM will not be in action this weekend in the Betway Premiership after their request to have their away fixture against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha was approved by the PSL.

The application came on the back of failure to pay salaries, forcing the club to inform players they were not obliged to return back to training ahead of the resumption of the domestic season following a short recess.

Royal AM are now in conversation with the SARS curator, the PSL executive committee and all parties affected to try resolve the chaos.

With the registration period closing on 25 January, there will be a rush for those players who are now waiting for their termination letters to enable them to move on as the clearance documents have to be issued this month.