Panaji : FSDL has invited bids in respect of six cities for the upcoming ISL season. Cities include Delhi, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Siliguri and Bhopal. This seems that there will be new ISL club for the upcoming ISL season which is to be happening in Goa.
“Under and subject to the Invitation To Bid (ITB), one new winning bidder and accordingly one new team shall be enrolled and awarded the right to participate in the Hero Indian Super League from the seventh season onward”, said by one of the organisers.
Now according to the sources, East Bengal has already picked up the bid and surprisingly another UK based firm has joined them on this race.
“Two parties have paid the necessary fee of Rs 5 lac and downloaded the invitation to bid (ITB) document. With East Bengal finding an investor, it was quite obvious that they would bid for a place in the ISL, but an international firm showing interest in ISL was a pleasant surprise,” according to the source from the organizer. He added, “The UK based company is certainly looking at investment opportunities in Indian football, probably by putting that money in an existing club or forming an entirely new club themselves. They have picked up the papers to understand what it takes to secure a place in ISL, India’s top-tier league.”
East Bengal have to definitely submit the bid paper on 14th September via mail and the hard copy should reach the FSDL’s Mumbai office by 17th September, but the UK based firm has some time in their hand to choose any of the above mentioned six cities.
This seems like, East Bengal definitely would be the 11th team on the ISL but another new side will join the ISL this season resulting in a 12 team ISL season.
