I thought I would add this here since this is the proper thread. Deepak said in the transfers thread about the I-League and how many teams will be in it come January and who... well, here is my IMO:
Pune FC and Bharat FC go, along with Royal Wahingdoh. That would leave the I-League with 8 teams (Aizawl, Bengaluru FC, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mumbai, Salgaocar, Shillong Lajong, and Sporting Goa). Due to their history and since Bharat FC folded after being allowed to exempt relegation, Dempo should be allowed back into the I-League automatically if they choose to.
Question then needs to be asked... should we continue with direct-entry teams? Why are Pune FC and Bharat FC folding? Cause they do not see many reasons to stay. They do not see the long-term benefits of staying in the I-League so what are the chances that another competent corporate group will come in and take the chance? We keep hearing about a corporate from Hyderabad coming or perhaps DSK coming in but we ideally should be careful here. Bengaluru FC do not pay their fees but instead provide other things to the AIFF, will the same happen with this new side?
We have many potential I-League sides like DSK, Lonestar Kashmir, Chanmari, a team from Chennai etc. and no I-League action till January so why not open the floor to a new side coming in from the I-League 2nd Division. Accept bids from teams to see if they could survive in the I-League if promoted and start the I-League 2nd Division in September or October for 2 months. Have the winner then promoted to the I-League and have the I-League start with 10 teams in January.
It is not ideal but we need to see some stability in Indian football for once. There are two leagues where their futures are very uncertain. The state and district leagues are a mess. Youth football has just words these days with the random "A" and "B" U16 and U19 teams coming out all of a sudden... its complete chaos.
No footballing country with ambitions for the AFC Asian Cup, let alone the FIFA World Cup, will ever get there will a system like this.
Just merge GPL and CFL,and get BFC in, close down everything else. IFA and GFA manages these without AIFF help and can do it. AIFF can just manage the national teams. Rest of the nation isn't ready for football leagues or clubs. Enough feeder population in these 3 regions to get a competitive NT in Asian levels.
Let Pune FC & Bharat FC go. Let AIFF understand the futility of inducting Corporate teams who can't stay afloat for 8 years even (for Bharat FC it is unique.... just 1 year). Let us have the remaing 9 teams (8 from the last edition plus Aizwal FC) and I fully agrree with ArsenalFan700 that AIFF conducts the 2nd Div I-League early and induct 2 more teams (ArsenalFan700 says 1 team) and if possible DSK Shivajians to have a 12 team I-League. But I'm not sure though, if the Pune team would stay afloat or wind up in a year or two. If no. of teams get reduced every year like this, then by 2017 or 2018 AIFF would happily wind up I-League and invite sanctions from FIFA. Then we would be left with only ISL where the supply of Indian players would be a problem and no ISL team would like to take any unknown or untried player. And also there is no guarantee that all the 8 ISL teams will stay for long unless they get back their investment. Then where we are heading to ? It is very important that AIFF takes this issue with their God-Fathers and genuinely try to save Indian Football. But this I'm afraid is just like expecting the Sun to come out blazing at 2-00 am.
@munna219777 Forget the Federation Cup for now. Lets focus on something else right now and that is the stability of first-division football in India right now.
I think everyone here would agree that the star and glitz of the ISL does work but is very expensive and honestly, what are the growth expectations here? Bengaluru FC have shown that starting in an "organic and noble" fashion can work if done properly. Why can't we start something where the I-League can show that they can survive, even if they are not as sexy as the ISL. If the I-League clubs really do care about Indian football growth then this is the chance to finally show it... take the initiative and fight.
Start small... a 10 team I-League with the most professionally ran teams in India... have an emphasis on long-term development with fans, the community, youth development etc and lets grow from there. This is something that probably should have happened a long time ago.
can see it right now a repeat of 92. the birth of the EPL. the biggest 20 clubs breakaway to form a league of thier own. pretty sure EB/MB/BFC would love the idea of forming a breakaway league with the ISL.
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