ISL must be converted into 1st tier of indian football with more number of teams, I league as 2nd tier and so on. ISL should be continued just like any 1st tier league of football around the world
The AIFF said yesterday that the two leagues may merge only in 2017-18 season. 2016-17 will not be possible as the office bearers will be busy with WC. The committee to manage merger have the Prez, VP, Secretary and one official 'close to Baichung Bhutia'.
Next year, I-league will be of 11 teams: 9 teams - one relegated + two promoted from Div II ('as being demanded by the clubs') + one more corporate team.
I have always opined to select the cities first and then select the 'franchisee' by bidding. For this, AIFF also need to do some homework, like assess the sports infra (stadium, training pitch, etc), the physical infra of the city (hotels, airport, intra-city transport, etc), potential football culture there (population, historical existence of football), the social presence of the city and so on. Instead, we let the corporates select the city and form the team. And Pune corporates are always in the forefront.
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Next year, I-league will be of 11 teams: 9 teams - one relegated + two promoted from Div II ('as being demanded by the clubs') + one more corporate team.
http://www.epaper.eisamay.com/Details.aspx?id=21076&boxid=155656341
Hopefully the corporate team is from somewhere that needs a football team (not in either ISL or I-League)... vote goes to Gujarat or Punjab.