@Arsenalfan700, I will try to explain. The traditional clubs ('domestic clubs' as you say), emerged out of local people's/ corporates' aspirations and means. True, they were not professional managements, marketing part were zilch, organisation were loose. This is where they should have received support from the Fed, not necessarily only financial. The Fed should have nurtured the clubs with capacity building, arrange some infra in association with the state FAs (sort of 'incubation'). Parallelly, they should have distributed a share of central sponsorship & TV deal money to the clubs to improve their bottomline.
In absence of these, the clubs, even after winning the league found out that there is no point continuing, because it was a losing proposition all the way. They could not sell the clubs as the clubs were not saleable entities. Shutting were only option, thereby throwing the league into turmoil again and again. AIFF should have intervened when top-end clubs closed.
I-league was a flawed model. but without really trying to change the model, AIFF chose to discard it, albeit via the backdoor. This is what irks me.
They should have employed a management consultant to find out and suggest remedies.
The words '... to start new league ...' in the contract with IMG-R shows I-league to be scrapped and ISL started was a pre-decided thing. One may suspect some money changing hands as well. Rob Baan also was not too happy to incorporate the same in his Master plan document.
I am upset that two big clubs are closing down but keep the sentiment aside for a moment. I am afraid that even ISL franchises are no different. Its is the initial euphoria which was experienced by NFL and I-league too. My only concern is has AIFF done anything new that will stop the same thing happening to ISL franchises (if ISL is made top-division)? From my understanding and viewpoint, the answer is NO!! If not what is wrong in continuing I-league as top division league and adding ISL franchises as the paid clubs (like BFC, Bharat FC, DSK, etc.). Having the same rule as franchises are not allowed to be relegated for 3 to 5 years. And as of owning the profit from the I-league, AIFF can hand over all the profit to their partner if they are so greedy (which they are). If they want to scrap I-league fine. But ensure that ISL dont follow the same fate of I-league over the next decade.
Another thing raised by many of the members, who will be responsible if tomorrow any franchises decides to shut down? Does AIFF any control over that (heck they dont have any control over clubs, leave franchises owned by IMG)? The clubs have been losing money for decades albeit in 1-2 crores. Now they are closing down due to AIFF incapability and financial burden with no light at the end of the tunnel. So how many years can we expect the franchises to continue if they keep losing money in 10-15 crores every year (mind it is just 3 months tournament, cant calculate the same when the ISL is stretched out)?
@Deb_Ban I agree 100%, although not sure what you mean by having to explain. You guys act as if I hate anything not franchisee or local.
In the end, the main problem is the AIFF and how they have handled all this. They gave away the right to the new league to IMG-Reliance in 2009, they did nothing to help the I-League, and have done nothing to improve youth development, develop a pyramid, or overall develop the game in the country. You guys have every right to be pissed since you guys are fans of clubs in the I-League... I am not so I can't have the same anger, I just support the sport in India.
@reddevil87 I see that comparison all the time but it is just pessimism and just easy targeting of the ISL. The NFL/I-League never had the same level of popularity of the ISL, the media work and production is 1000 times better than it ever was for the NFL/I-League, the foreign players are a lot better, attendances, ratings, marquees etc. There is also more backing, some with money for the league compared to the NFL/I-League. I am not saying the ISL is perfect and that they are not in danger... they are, but they are in a lot of a better position than NFL/I-League ever were honestly.
10 sponsors giving you 1 crore each still makes you loose 25 crores/season. No TV money, ever! In 2 seasons 3 franchises gasping for money, it's even more flawed than I-League.
AIFF do not have control over shutdown of any ISL franchise. Each & every decision is taken by IMG-R & AIFF merely wags it's tail of approval. They wanted a 3 m window for ISL & found it difficult in 2013. So they methodically started reducing no. of teams from I-League. In 2013-14 I-League we had 14 teams initially, though Mumbai Tigers Football Club withdrew participation on 3rd. Sep'13...just 18 days before the start of I-League & we had a 13 team League. Then much before before the start of the 2014-15 I-League.....Churchill Brothers SC, Rangdajied United FC & United Sports Club were debarred on Licence Issue along with Mohammedan SC (who were though relegated in 2013-14). Bharat FC was added with great fanfare to make the no. to 11 for the League. That gave AIFF the freedom to start I-League on 17th. January '15 & in absence of IFA Shield (not that U-19 farce), Durand, Rovers......AIFF had free hand to slot in ISL in 2014. Remember Federation Cup was squeezed in between Dec 28-Jan 11...after the 1st. Circus ended on 20 Dec. Then Bharat FC (the new entrant courtesy AIFF), Pune FC & Royal Wahingdoh pulled out much to the delight of AIFF before the start of the 2015-16 I-League & AIFF with their magic wand found DSK Shivajians to make it a 9 team I-League. Because of cramped schedule & some other God knows what reasons ...Federation Cup was scrapped only to be revived after a kick on the back from AFC. And now for 2016-17 I-League.........Salgaocar, Sporting & perhaps Dempo are going to make it easier for AIFF as now they can plan a 6 team I-League with home-away-neutral fixtures.....a great innovation by the "Ratna"s of AIFF. Thought of Merger of the 2 Leagues (Circus & I-League) became a proposal to promote Circus to the Pole position & downgrade I-League to Garib League. With no promotion & relegation It is like sending your wards to school & see him/her remain in Standard I forever. What an idea......What a Roadmap........Great work AIFF.
There are certain countries....where promotion/relegation is not there in their top league. Also there are more than 100 countries where promotion/relegation is there in their top league. Now it is up to us to accept which model suits us.....just comaparing with some handful countries without proper & acceptable reason will not take us forward. But then going forwards has never been the intention of AIFF. They are ready to go anywhere Aunty & her Chamchas take them to..... so long they keep on earning.
@reddevil87, I fully agree with your view of keeping I-league the main league and adding franchises into it. As regards shutting of clubs, I think there is a difference. If an I-league club folds, that is the end of the club. But for ISL, if a franchisee owner wants out, he can sell his stake to someone else. Even if FC Goa folds, the Goa franchise remains for someone to pick it up. Or look at the change of hands at Kerala, Delhi or NE franchisees. What IMG-R did at the outset was build proper club entities. AIFF could have done this earlier, add a business plan for the league and control the panic.
@Arsenalfan700, again, we have to keep in mind that NFL were with only 3 foreigners per club and 10-12 clubs. Current arrangement artificially raises the level within a short attention span and draws the Euro fans, nothing else.
@ArsenalFan700 No doubt ISL is better but you are forgetting the change in economics too. NFL/I-league was a decade old and at that time NFL was able to gather similar interest in the general public. Foreign players in ISL are better because now India is shelling more money. But then again if you cant guarantee the sustainability, ISL (with more money) will be much quicker to follow the same fate as that of NFL/I-league. Just arguing that putting more money will ensure sustainability is dumb. I believe you understand the same thing. AIFF has not changed a single bit on the ground during that and now. Only thing which has changed is investment of more money. I am not convinced do just that will be enough. On contrary, it will perish much quicker than earlier if not done something.
@Deb_Ban Its the initial days, even investors/owners are just taking risk as in case of KBFC, DD, etc and prices of the franchises are low. Hence there is a possibility of change of owners. Once ISL is bit old (2-3 years down the line) the profit and loss margin will be clear for analysis, then change of ownership will be difficult. If ISL is a success (well and good), the change of ownership will happen albeit with high price. But god forbids, if ISL is a failure then no new investor/owner will be fool enough to invest in it. The only option would be to close down by the old owners. I sincerely hope for the first case for Indian football. This is same just now as clubs.
Comments
In absence of these, the clubs, even after winning the league found out that there is no point continuing, because it was a losing proposition all the way. They could not sell the clubs as the clubs were not saleable entities. Shutting were only option, thereby throwing the league into turmoil again and again. AIFF should have intervened when top-end clubs closed.
I-league was a flawed model. but without really trying to change the model, AIFF chose to discard it, albeit via the backdoor. This is what irks me.
1> Always maintained I-league as Premier league and ISL has tournament in the press-meet and over night comes and say you are now second tier.
2 > Should have analaysed where the system is paralyzed and cure the basic problem
3 > They should have taken clue when clubs starts folding earlier, Address the issue and Build trust among stake holders
4 > Whether I-league is failed product or flawed product, how different from ISL will show up the result in 5 years down the line.
Impact - Indian NT and Indian football fans are being duped again and again
Revamped national league 3 thrice, Still unable to create stable national league.
U17WC - Gift from Sepp Blatter and FIFA, With the given infra we couldnt have got this
AFCU16 - Due to WC, AFC gifted this, to acclimatize to the India for Asian teams in the U17WC
Cant even develop single football specific stadium for National Team
Killed the tournaments and put whole Indian football calender into mess
What is the achievement of AIFF in last 15 years ? How to make them accountable ?
They should have employed a management consultant to find out and suggest remedies.
The words '... to start new league ...' in the contract with IMG-R shows I-league to be scrapped and ISL started was a pre-decided thing. One may suspect some money changing hands as well. Rob Baan also was not too happy to incorporate the same in his Master plan document.
If not what is wrong in continuing I-league as top division league and adding ISL franchises as the paid clubs (like BFC, Bharat FC, DSK, etc.). Having the same rule as franchises are not allowed to be relegated for 3 to 5 years. And as of owning the profit from the I-league, AIFF can hand over all the profit to their partner if they are so greedy (which they are). If they want to scrap I-league fine. But ensure that ISL dont follow the same fate of I-league over the next decade.
Another thing raised by many of the members, who will be responsible if tomorrow any franchises decides to shut down? Does AIFF any control over that (heck they dont have any control over clubs, leave franchises owned by IMG)? The clubs have been losing money for decades albeit in 1-2 crores. Now they are closing down due to AIFF incapability and financial burden with no light at the end of the tunnel. So how many years can we expect the franchises to continue if they keep losing money in 10-15 crores every year (mind it is just 3 months tournament, cant calculate the same when the ISL is stretched out)?
In the end, the main problem is the AIFF and how they have handled all this. They gave away the right to the new league to IMG-Reliance in 2009, they did nothing to help the I-League, and have done nothing to improve youth development, develop a pyramid, or overall develop the game in the country. You guys have every right to be pissed since you guys are fans of clubs in the I-League... I am not so I can't have the same anger, I just support the sport in India.
@reddevil87 I see that comparison all the time but it is just pessimism and just easy targeting of the ISL. The NFL/I-League never had the same level of popularity of the ISL, the media work and production is 1000 times better than it ever was for the NFL/I-League, the foreign players are a lot better, attendances, ratings, marquees etc. There is also more backing, some with money for the league compared to the NFL/I-League. I am not saying the ISL is perfect and that they are not in danger... they are, but they are in a lot of a better position than NFL/I-League ever were honestly.
In 2013-14 I-League we had 14 teams initially, though Mumbai Tigers Football Club withdrew participation on 3rd. Sep'13...just 18 days before the start of I-League & we had a 13 team League.
Then much before before the start of the 2014-15 I-League.....Churchill Brothers SC, Rangdajied United FC & United Sports Club were debarred on Licence Issue along with Mohammedan SC (who were though relegated in 2013-14). Bharat FC was added with great fanfare to make the no. to 11 for the League. That gave AIFF the freedom to start I-League on 17th. January '15 & in absence of IFA Shield (not that U-19 farce), Durand, Rovers......AIFF had free hand to slot in ISL in 2014. Remember Federation Cup was squeezed in between Dec 28-Jan 11...after the 1st. Circus ended on 20 Dec.
Then Bharat FC (the new entrant courtesy AIFF), Pune FC & Royal Wahingdoh pulled out much to the delight of AIFF before the start of the 2015-16 I-League & AIFF with their magic wand found DSK Shivajians to make it a 9 team I-League.
Because of cramped schedule & some other God knows what reasons ...Federation Cup was scrapped only to be revived after a kick on the back from AFC.
And now for 2016-17 I-League.........Salgaocar, Sporting & perhaps Dempo are going to make it easier for AIFF as now they can plan a 6 team I-League with home-away-neutral fixtures.....a great innovation by the "Ratna"s of AIFF.
Thought of Merger of the 2 Leagues (Circus & I-League) became a proposal to promote Circus to the Pole position & downgrade I-League to Garib League. With no promotion & relegation It is like sending your wards to school & see him/her remain in Standard I forever. What an idea......What a Roadmap........Great work AIFF.
There are certain countries....where promotion/relegation is not there in their top league. Also there are more than 100 countries where promotion/relegation is there in their top league. Now it is up to us to accept which model suits us.....just comaparing with some handful countries without proper & acceptable reason will not take us forward. But then going forwards has never been the intention of AIFF. They are ready to go anywhere Aunty & her Chamchas take them to..... so long they keep on earning.
@reddevil87, I fully agree with your view of keeping I-league the main league and adding franchises into it. As regards shutting of clubs, I think there is a difference. If an I-league club folds, that is the end of the club. But for ISL, if a franchisee owner wants out, he can sell his stake to someone else. Even if FC Goa folds, the Goa franchise remains for someone to pick it up. Or look at the change of hands at Kerala, Delhi or NE franchisees. What IMG-R did at the outset was build proper club entities. AIFF could have done this earlier, add a business plan for the league and control the panic.
@Arsenalfan700, again, we have to keep in mind that NFL were with only 3 foreigners per club and 10-12 clubs. Current arrangement artificially raises the level within a short attention span and draws the Euro fans, nothing else.
@Deb_Ban Its the initial days, even investors/owners are just taking risk as in case of KBFC, DD, etc and prices of the franchises are low. Hence there is a possibility of change of owners. Once ISL is bit old (2-3 years down the line) the profit and loss margin will be clear for analysis, then change of ownership will be difficult. If ISL is a success (well and good), the change of ownership will happen albeit with high price. But god forbids, if ISL is a failure then no new investor/owner will be fool enough to invest in it. The only option would be to close down by the old owners. I sincerely hope for the first case for Indian football. This is same just now as clubs.