The former Orlando Pirates striker and Maritzburg United coach, Mr Ian Palmer, was appointed as the new coach of Black Leopards FC. It was announced by the team’s chairperson, Mr David Thidiela, during a media conference held at the Gold Reef City Theme Park Hotel on Tuesday.

Thidiela revealed that they had signed a one-year contract with the new coach. He stated that he was convinced that they had employed the right man for the job. Palmer's appointment came into effect on Tuesday.

Thidiela said that the former head coach of the team, Mr Sunday Chidzambwa, was appointed as the team technical director. Chidzambwa was banned for life by the Zimbabwean Football Association for being involved in a match-fixing scandal.

Thidiela insisted Chidzambwa had not stepped down because of the corruption scandal. "We want to clear the air; we stand by our coach," Thidiela said. "He will fulfil a technical role in the club."

Chidzambwa was one of 15 coaches, players, officials and journalists who were handed lifetime bans by the Zimbabwe Football Association earlier this month after investigations into match-fixing and corruption. Thidiela said they had not yet received confirmation that Chidzambwa had been found guilty for his alleged role in the scandal, though Fifa had confirmed that it was in the process of extending the ban globally.

Speaking to Limpopo Mirror on Tuesday, Palmer said that he had been given a mandate to make sure the team ends up in the Top 8 bracket at the end of the soccer season. He revealed that he would continue to work with assistant coach Mr Abel Makhubele in the technical department, for the time being.

The team’s top goal scorer, Rodney Ramagalela, said that they would work with the new coach to deliver good things to the team. He said to the supporters of the team that they must give their full support to the new coach.