Ernst Middendorp left Maritzburg United because he believed his public spat with acting PSL CEO Mato Madlala was harming the club, a source close to the club has revealed. Madlala is also the chairman of United's KwaZulu-Natal rivals, Lamontville Golden Arrows.Being compromised due to his fight with Madlala was the official reason given by Middendorp for his departure, the source said.Middendorp was fired as Arrows coach in 2011 and took the club to Fifa to force them to pay out the remainder of his contract.In April, Middendorp and Arrows' assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi were involved in an ugly touchline incident during which they apparently pushed each other.Middendorp and Maritzburg United complained afterwards that Madlala had been present and had conducted herself in a manner more consistent with that of Arrows chairman than that of a neutral PSL CEO.This season Middendorp went onto Supersport's Extra Time analysis show to complain about refereeing decisions against his team in their 2-0 defeat against Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium on September 24.He said in his post-match interview that he believed Maritzburg United were being targeted for miraculously surviving relegation on the last day of last season at the expense of Jomo Cosmos, an "establishment club" in South African football, Middendorp said.On Extra Timethe coach again hinted at a conspiracy, saying his team would be targeted by referees because he had spoken out over unfair decisions.However, replays on the show revealed that the refereeing decisions in Maritzburg's game against Chiefs had been correct, and the coach was left with egg on his face.However, within a week Middendorp's prediction of being targeted by refs did appear to have some basis to it.He again complained when referee Victor Hlongwane was deployed for his team's 1-0 loss to Polokwane City at Harry Gwala Stadium on September 27 .Hlongwane was suspended last season after overseeing a clash between Maritzburg United and Polokwane City on February 3, when the ref had dubiously awarded a penalty to City and red-carded United defender Brian Onyango.Even if Middendorp's conspiracy theory has some merit to it, it appears the coach's hot-headedness, ability to pick fights and shoot his mouth off at the slightest provocation have contributed to his downfall as much as anything else.However, this latest saga and his allegations do raise questions of whether a club owner can serve as acting CEO of the PSL with complete neutrality.- TMG Digital/TMG Sport..