MUMBAI: The former CEO of Kerala Blasters, Varun Tripuraneni, is reportedly the prime mover behind the new management and ownership that will run the affairs of the struggling Indian Super League franchise FC Pune City, which will also be shifting base to Hyderabad under a new name.
Highly placed sources within the club in Pune, requesting anonymity, told Hindustan Times, “The team will be under a completely new management and ownership. The club is to be completely rebranded and renamed.”
Tripuraneni did not deny the information revealed to HT by the sources within FCPC: “Tripuraneni has bought a majority stake in FC Pune City and is the main catalyst in this move to switch cities.”
“Yes I am involved. I will release a statement shortly,” Tripuraneni told the daily.
Gaurav Modwel, CEO, FC Pune City, said: “We will be making an official announcement, clarifying every detail very soon, and till then I cannot comment on anything. Yes, Varun Tripuraneni is involved, but that is all I can say right now.”
The club is expected to make an official announcement confirming the move to Hyderabad this week.
The tentative venue for the new Hyderabad team is the Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Gachibowli Sports Complex, in suburban Hyderabad, HT reports.
FC Pune City, after five seasons in the ISL, ran out of funds and were unable to find any local investor in order to keep the club in the city.
It is unclear if current co-owners of the club, Rajesh Wadhawan Group, will have any stake at all going forward.
