Das spoke in TOI of more than one teams from 2-3 cities. If one city is Kolkata from where there would be more than one teams, which are the others? Bengaluru? Mumbai? Pune ? or Guwahati?
ATK wouldnt have gone ahead with renewals and youth scouting if they arent gonna exist.. Am sure they either want to increase their market value by having these assets such as youth teams & Renewed overpriced players when MB do come for a Buyin or they really do see them as a player themselves in Kolkata football.
I also really do struggle to see how EB or MB will have the funds to really take over ATK, Unless of course a certain Mr.Mallya with his UB brand fund it (ISL is the one sport he hasnt sinked his teeth in) or a conglomerate led by Goenka group take up the majority stake in MB.
They will just form a company related to football. You must understand UB group still gives EB a sum of 8 crores/year in a non AFC year and even more when EB plays AFC Cup. Both clubs have a fully functional residential academies. No ISL franchises have a single sponsor who pay 8 crores/year or have any verifiable creditable youth system. LG just sponsored bucket seats installation in EB ground. UB and more sponsors will come to EB when the league is better marketed and IMG would know that. A global fanatic fan base is unignorable in modern football. As for ATK, we don't care, they can shut or merge.
East Bengal and Mohun Bagan also have the history and prestige that Atletico de Kolkata can't buy. Atletico de Kolkata is rubbish and honestly is a commercial for Atletico Madrid in India.
Biggest question for me is whether the guys who run the clubs will be considered competent to run the team in the ISL. Will guys like Swapan Bose, Anjan Mitra, etc. be around?
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I also really do struggle to see how EB or MB will have the funds to really take over ATK, Unless of course a certain Mr.Mallya with his UB brand fund it (ISL is the one sport he hasnt sinked his teeth in) or a conglomerate led by Goenka group take up the majority stake in MB.
UB and more sponsors will come to EB when the league is better marketed and IMG would know that. A global fanatic fan base is unignorable in modern football. As for ATK, we don't care, they can shut or merge.
Biggest question for me is whether the guys who run the clubs will be considered competent to run the team in the ISL. Will guys like Swapan Bose, Anjan Mitra, etc. be around?