R20m for Maritzburg to move?

Johannesburg - The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality are reportedly willing to offer Maritzburg United R20 million to play all of their home games in the city next season.

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Reports in The Herald claim the municipality are looking to splash the cash in order to lure the Team of Choice to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for the entirety of the 2012/13 PSL campaign.

United had already been paid R750 000 for each of the three times they played at the stadium this season, although the municipality had budgeted around R11.8 million for "the promoting of soccer matches at the stadium".

A deal between the club and city is set to be concluded by the end of next month, although Bay Stars, the local team competing in the Eastern Cape Vodacom League, have already voiced their displeasure at having to share the stadium with a team who do not even hail from the area.

"It's unjust and unfair for the municipality to buy a team that won't be permanently be residing in PE. We appeal to the metro to support Nelson Mandela Bay teams. It will be a slap in the face if they do that [buy Maritzburg United]," Bay Stars coach Graham Harrison said.