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ISL: East Bengal finalise investors; to obtain NOC from Quess in 48 hours

ISL: East Bengal finalise investors; to obtain NOC from Quess in 48 hours
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By

Sagnik

Published: 13 July 2020 7:31 AM GMT

After Mohun Bagan, Kolkata giants East Bengal are edging closer to a much-awaited entry to the Indian Super League (ISL) having finalised new investors/sponsors ahead of the upcoming season, The Bridge understands. However, whether or not the Red and Golds will feature in the country’s top flight in this season still remains to be seen.

East Bengal have been locked in a tussle with their former investors Quess corp. over final settlement for quite some time now. However, it seems that the impasse will be over soon. It has been learnt that the club will obtain an NOC from Quess within the next 48 hours after having already signed a draft of termination, which would give them back the sporting rights.

“We are in talks with two-three investors. We will go in the right direction,” senior official Debabrata Sarkar was recently quoted saying by The Telegraph while PTI also reported that the club itself is confident of playing in the ISL soon.

The 100-year old club has reportedly been in talks with several potential investors including Procter and Gamble, Red Chillies Entertainment, ITC, Bandhan Bank and even former ATK FC co-owner Harsh Neotia.

https://twitter.com/whynotkundu/status/1282382354812530689

Former Minerva Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj has also publicly expressed his desire to buy 70 per cent of Quess East Bengal FC shares and get the sporting rights as a third party. All eyes are on East Bengal for whom the next couple of weeks could turn out to be extremely vital. If they want to play in the ISL this season, they have to move quickly.

What is FSDL’s stand?

Football Sports Development Ltd. (FSDL), the body which operates the ISL, has already held meetings to plan out the upcoming season which is set to undergo several changes owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. As it stands now, the idea is that it will be a 10-team centralised league, held between November 2020 and March 2021, behind closed doors.

With Mohun Bagan merging with ATK FC to feature in the ISL, there have been calls for East Bengal to follow suit. From Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal to other eminent personalities in the country’s football fraternity, everyone wants the legacy club to reignite its rivalry with Bagan at the biggest stage that Indian football has to offer.

Having East Bengal join the ISL will only be beneficial for FSDL as it would surely see a rise in footfall, viewership and revenue. However, with all matches set to be held behind closed doors this season, there is really no hurry. It might be so that East Bengal, despite having new investors/sponsors, will play in the I-League for one more season.

Also read: ISL: ATK Mohun Bagan Football Club — Death of a legacy or beginning of a new era?

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