Show a good business plan to a serious businessman and he would be only too willing to invest. But profits would not be forthcoming, for that to happen, they need to have perseverance, and a deep pocket. As @arsenalfan mentioned, it would depend on their ability to lose money in the medium term. But if there is a proper cashflow analysis (even a stretched one), investors will come. Currently I-league does not have a sensible business plan.
All the fetish about money is unnecessarily....as long as they make competitive sides, excite local fans and most importantly give local players a platform.
I would give SLFC/MFC/AFC/MFC a chance simply as they qualify on these criteria. If they don't build competitive sides they will be relegated.
KBFC , for all the money spent, would struggle to avoid relegation even in the current ileague.
SLFC AFC MFC are barely competitive. And NE teams would never be successful at winning silverware unless they stop filling their teams with local lads who aren't good enough for even top flight Indian football. Some of them are good but most aren't. MFC needs a total revamp IMO.
We are hearing a lot from the AIFF officials about merger of I-League & ISL, but nothing so far from the Franchise owners or more importantly from IMG-R. Whatever the AIFF guys say, I don't think merger will take place without fierce opposition from at least one ISL team owner. We all know that whatever glamour or professionalism that is displayed by ATK is not real. They don't have any support base.....yes I repeat...zero support base. All of their so called fans are actually Mohun Bagan & EB supporters. They go the ground to see glamour & also to witness a match without having any tension about the final outcome. Once ATK is pitted against Mohun Bagan or EB... we will see hardly any crowd in the stands marked for ATK. This will surely be unacceptable to the ATK owners. Then to compete in the single league both Mohun Bagan & EB need approximately 30-40 Cr yearly budget. I am afraid IMG-R being a true business house, will see that these 2 Kolkata giants never get that sort of sponsorship. Bengaluru FC may not be short of money but whether they would spend that much is not clear.... they may lose interest after 1-2 years if they don't win the league & close down like so many other clubs & concentrate on academies. Then AFC licencing issue needs to be taken care off before start of the merged league. But AIFF along with IMG-R will manage this problem like true business men. Also with 4 foreigners rule and a full year's contract... ISL teams' spending may be restricted to normal decent foreigners & not "Expiry Date Passed" super stars. This will be a good thing.
But whatever it is..... if I-League & ISL are merged finally.... it
will be unjust to include only Mohun Bagan, EB & BFC. Here AIFF must come forward & help other I-League teams so that we can have atleast 14 teams in the merged league. Also they must draw a proper plan for promotion & relegation, otherwise the league will lose charm & supply line of Indian players will be cut off.
With 14 teams...the league can start on the 1st week end of October & finish on the last weekend of May. This will provide enough time to conduct the Federation Cup simultaneously amongst 14 big brothers plus18 smaller teams based on State leagues & Div II league. Federation Cup can be played on strict single leg knockout pattern with ties being decided on lottery. 8 months league will also provide windows for International matches. Minute details can always be worked out but we or rather the AIFF & IMG-R must act with a genuineness. This can be the 1st. step towards taking Indian Football forward. Live to see Indian Football team creating the same passion just like our Cricket team. Diificult.......but where there is a will there is always a way.
ATK has no fans or fake professionalism- that's a very wrong idea. Not everyone who went to ATK games are necessarily Mohun Bagan or East Bengal supporter. They have certain plans and they will do it. Also they are just 2 yrs old. Dont expect magic.
Club licensing is a joke and it will stay so. And all this talk of 30-40 crores spending is illogical if you think clearly. You can have a max salary cap but surely not a minimum cap. No one is going to stop you from signing Bello Razaq!
ATK do have some part-time fans. That is, MB-EB fans wearing red stripes for some fun. All Bengali fans are either MB or EB fans, which leaves the non-Bengali fans, who are again, KKR fans in their other life.
And I am actually expecting magic. The disappearing act, to be precise. Two or three trophyless seasons, and we would have to search for the fans.
Should not make fun of Bello Raaq. He was exceptional for Mohun Bagan last year in I-League. This year for EB he is not at all bad. All these efforts despite his age (must be 37-38). On the contrary, the high profile Mendy (such a hit in ISL) is struggling after 5/6 matches in I-League.
Comments
And why are you so against this? At best, this would mean good things for India and Indian football.
We all know that whatever glamour or professionalism that is displayed by ATK is not real. They don't have any support base.....yes I repeat...zero support base. All of their so called fans are actually Mohun Bagan & EB supporters. They go the ground to see glamour & also to witness a match without having any tension about the final outcome. Once ATK is pitted against Mohun Bagan or EB... we will see hardly any crowd in the stands marked for ATK. This will surely be unacceptable to the ATK owners.
Then to compete in the single league both Mohun Bagan & EB need approximately 30-40 Cr yearly budget. I am afraid IMG-R being a true business house, will see that these 2 Kolkata giants never get that sort of sponsorship.
Bengaluru FC may not be short of money but whether they would spend that much is not clear.... they may lose interest after 1-2 years if they don't win the league & close down like so many other clubs & concentrate on academies.
Then AFC licencing issue needs to be taken care off before start of the merged league. But AIFF along with IMG-R will manage this problem like true business men.
Also with 4 foreigners rule and a full year's contract... ISL teams' spending may be restricted to normal decent foreigners & not "Expiry Date Passed" super stars. This will be a good thing.
But whatever it is..... if I-League & ISL are merged finally.... it will be unjust to include only Mohun Bagan, EB & BFC. Here AIFF must come forward & help other I-League teams so that we can have atleast 14 teams in the merged league.
Also they must draw a proper plan for promotion & relegation, otherwise the league will lose charm & supply line of Indian players will be cut off.
With 14 teams...the league can start on the 1st week end of October & finish on the last weekend of May. This will provide enough time to conduct the Federation Cup simultaneously amongst 14 big brothers plus18 smaller teams based on State leagues & Div II league. Federation Cup can be played on strict single leg knockout pattern with ties being decided on lottery. 8 months league will also provide windows for International matches.
Minute details can always be worked out but we or rather the AIFF & IMG-R must act with a genuineness. This can be the 1st. step towards taking Indian Football forward.
Live to see Indian Football team creating the same passion just like our Cricket team. Diificult.......but where there is a will there is always a way.
Club licensing is a joke and it will stay so. And all this talk of 30-40 crores spending is illogical if you think clearly. You can have a max salary cap but surely not a minimum cap. No one is going to stop you from signing Bello Razaq!
And I am actually expecting magic. The disappearing act, to be precise. Two or three trophyless seasons, and we would have to search for the fans.
Central revenue only earned ISL clubs 3 crores in ISL 2
Also none of them have paid the 12 crores Franchise fee.
Most lose around 30 crores a year.
The Hotel bill for MCFC alone is around 40Crores per year.
There is no 4 foreigner rule for AFC Club licensing. ..you only need to adhere to the 3 + 1 for AFC competition not your local League.
There will be a full year of back and forth on this...all because of what a drunken Subrata Dutta blurted out...
Relax and wait till the relegation and promotion of this year is complete for more clarity
On the contrary, the high profile Mendy (such a hit in ISL) is struggling after 5/6 matches in I-League.