Sinki Leshabane, a potential buyer of the team, revealed the team is now R100 million to buy whereas this time last year, it was selling for R40 million.

She was speaking at a supporters meeting held at a Batho community hall, attended by, among others, Premier Sisi Ntombela, Executive Mayor Olly  Mlamleli, Director General Kopung Ralikontsane, ANC chairman Sam Mashinini, and other MECs, as well as provincial leaders of the ANC. She said the price of the team has escalated ridiculously because of the debt the team has accumulated.

Leshabane and the consortium last year briefly ran the team after agreeing in principle to buy but later learned that Celtic owner Max Tshabalala owed Sars over R40 million. This, then halted the sale.

She says the amount owed to Sars has now doubled, coupled with other operating expenses. Siwelele will now cost R100 million, much to the shock of both fans and government.

Ralikontsane earlier told supporters that they had reached an agreement with Tshabalala to make Leshabane an offer to purchase, this is after he showed them tax documents saying everything is now on board with Sars.

But Leshabane says it's all lies because as the third party in this process, she regularly gets updates about the proceedings of the sale of the team.

"Celtic has serious financial problems, to put it mildly, the team belongs to Sars and there is nothing we can do about it until an arrangement or payment is done."

She, however, told the meeting that she loved the team and she is still interested in buying.

"This is our team, we love it. Let's come with the plan, she pleaded with the fans and government.

The fans, who last year established a Trust Fund to buy the shares, last night raised R60 000, with members of the provincial government individually donating about R55 000.

The fans asked Ntombela and her team to make sure that by the end of the month, Leshabane takes the ownership of the team.

Ntombela vowed to work hard to make sure that the teams stay in Bloemfontein.

"Close your eyes and imagine Bloemfontein without Celtic. This will not happen while I'm still the leader here. We will give this matter huge attention after the State of the Province Address next week," she says.

Meanwhile, the fans said the boycott of matches continues.

OFM News/Michael Tlhakudi