MUMBAI: The prevalant talk that East Bengal, in the wake of getting on board a controlling investor in Shree Cement, would be joining the Hero Indian Super League from the upcoming season itself, can be taken as good as confirmed now.
ISL organisers Football Sports Development Limited have invited bids from ‘interested parties’ to add a team in the upcoming ISL season.
The Invitation to Tender, accessed by Goal, reads: “Invited bids from interested parties for the award of one additional team to enroll and participate in the Hero Indian Super League, from its seventh edition to be staged in 2020-21.”
Delhi, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Kolkata (emphasis ours), Siliguri and Bhopal have been identified as the six cities from which bids will be accepted.
The soft bid document must be submitted by September 14 and hard copy by September 17.
The ISL currently has 10 teams – ATK Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City FC, Odisha FC, NorthEast United, Hyderabad FC, Bengaluru FC, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Kerala Blasters and Jamshedpur FC.
Their arch-rivals Mohun Bagan had already ensured their berth in ISL after merging with ATK.
With both the Kolkata giants set to participate in ISL, this will be for the first time since its inception that two teams from the same city will ply their trade in the country’s top tier league at the same time.
Meanhwile, as predicted by SportzPower, the portents are that the entry of Shree Cement as East Bengal’s controlling stakeholder will also mean a change of guard at the 100-year-old footballing institution.
PTI spoke to the owner of Shree Cements, Hari Mohan Bangur, post the announcement. Some of the comments he made in the interview are revealing of things to come.
Will East Bengal play in the ISL this season?
We are 100 per cent hopeful of completing the formalities and play in the ISL. We will definitely play this season. The handover is yet to be done; the intent to take over was signed yesterday. Within 5-10 days, by the middle of the month we will finalise everything.
How much stake has Shree Cements taken up in East Bengal?
76%. This comes with majority on the board (emphasis ours).
All major decisions will be taken by the company which will have representatives from both parties and major decisions will be taken by the Board on rationality basis.
Will there be any changes to the name of the club?
We have not thought about the name yet but East Bengal will be very much part of the name and figure prominently. But we too want to take some recognition somewhere or other.
Why invest in East Bengal?
East Bengal were in search of an investor for quite a long time, and their negotiation last time broke in the final stages. And for us, we thought this was an opportunity to become a long-term investor and serve Indian football.
All sports want money and professionalism. Sport will not go forward unless you have big money.
We have to have good coaching, players, facilities, and for that one way or other some hand holding was necessary. Shree Cement and East Bengal will become good partners.
Any apprehensions because of how Quess’ partnership with the club broke down?
At this point of time we think that things will work out very well. We never faced any difficulty. I don’t know what happened with Quess, it’s their problem.
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