INDIAN SUPER LEAGUE - ISL - NEWS

  



I-League clubs Pune,Bharat FC planning to disband first team

AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said they haven’t been officially informed by the clubs yet. 

The Indian Super League (ISL) might still be a fledgling tournament but it’s shadow is already looming large over the long-established I-League. It is reliably learnt that the two I-League sides from Pune, Bharat FC and Pune FC, are ‘seriously considering’ the option of discontinuing their first team operations. While Pune are disillusioned that there seems to be no long-term vision to run the I-League, Bharat are having second thoughts after a miserable debut season, where they finished at the bottom despite investing heavily. Both teams do not see I-League as an economically viable investment anymore. Pune, however, are likely to continue with their youth teams. All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Praful Patel has urged the two sides to join hands and operate under one banner. But there has been no progress on the proposal as well. The club owners were scheduled to meet Patel on Tuesday but the meeting had to be postponed as he is abroad. 


A Pune official said it is getting ‘increasingly difficult’ for them to manage the club as there’s very little return on the heavy investment they have made. Since its inception in 2007, Pune FC have spent an average of Rs 10 crore per season and have some of the best names in the country on their roster. The club has consistently been in the top five of the table since being promoted to the top division in 2009. However, they claim to have been let down by the governing body. “There have hardly been any returns. In all these years, there is no revenue stream for clubs. The league does not have a proper broadcaster and there is no marketing plan. Crucially, there seems to be no vision for I-League, which is extremely concerning,” the official said. “The focus is on ISL. They say the two leagues will be merged but no ones knows when and how that will happen. It’s tough to exist in such a scenario.” Bharat, meanwhile, haven’t even signed a single player for the upcoming season so far. Their coach Stuart Watkiss has been in Pune for close to three weeks but there has been little intent shown by the owners. Majority of the team’s management has already resigned, including their CEO Suvrat Thatte. The clubs from Pune have faced huge problems in engaging local community and filling up the stands as well. Three top division teams are based out of Pune — Pune FC, Bharat FC and ISL’s Pune City. However, none of them have been able to crack the code. They all play their home games at the Balewadi Sports Complex, in the outskirts of the city. AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said they haven’t been officially informed by the clubs yet. “There is no official confirmation. Neither have they written to us about this. They participated in the I-League workshop recently. I believe Patel has spoken to them and will meet them. I don’t know what exactly will happen there,” Das said. Pune and Bharat are not the only clubs who have been having second thoughts over their future in the I-League. Speculations were rife last season that Goan giants Salgaocar too will shut shop whereas Dempo have severely downscaled their operations after getting relegated last season. 

Pune FC likely to shut first team operations, Bharat FC’s future up in the air

Football in the Deccan city is set to suffer as two clubs are close to shutting their operations...

The All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) plan to promote the I-League has taken a severe blow with a seasoned and a fledgling club from Pune facing the dusk.

It is reliably learnt that the Ashok Piramal Group owned Red Lizards, who came into existence back in 2007 are set to discontinue their first team operations. The club was created to give an impetus to the sport of football in the city of Pune and kickstart a team that could compete on a national level professionally.

They are however, expected to continue their academy set-up which houses youngsters of three age groups – Under-19, Under-17 and Under-15.

According to sources, it is believed that the ownership were disillusioned with the state of Indian football. Despite having fulfilled the club licensing criterion and earning the reputation of one of the most professionally managed teams in the country, the management decided to pull plug on first team investment. It must be noted that Pune FC were also one of the first teams to aptly name the club after the city in the I-League era.

With next to zero revenue streams for clubs, lack of broadcasting rights and no marketing plan, it is believed that Pune FC’s owners recognized a lack of vision or a roadmap for Indian football as a whole, which led them to believe that investing further in top flight wouldn’t make sense.

The club remained unavailable for comment on the above developments.

On the other hand, Bharat FC who made their foray into the I-League last season after coming into existence less than an year back, haven’t yet finalized their plans for the upcoming 2015-16 season.

As reported earlier by Goal, the Lions of Pune are yet to sign a player on their roster.

With coach Stuart Watkiss in Pune since the end of last month, there has been no progress on recruitment front and several of the club’s staff, including CEO Suvrat Thatte have already put in their papers, Goal can reveal.

The club, who are backed by Bharat Forge Group, spent heavily in their debut season and still could only manage to finish bottom of the table. They weren’t relegated only thanks to the grant offered to corporate entities who commit to support Indian football in the long run by the AIFF.

Bharat FC’s future is very much up in the air as the club management is expected to meet the AIFF president Praful Patel and take a final call on whether they wish to continue their sojourn in Indian football.

Goal also contacted AIFF to learn if they received any intimation from the two Pune-based clubs to which they replied in the negative. However, it must also be noted that Patel had mulled the idea of Pune FC and Bharat FC's merger but given that the former team's owners do not have any intention of funding or being in existence in India's top division league, this is certainly out of the question for now.

FC Pune City rope in English central defender Roger 

Johnson

The David Platt coached side finalised yet another foreign recruit as the team left for Turkey for pre-season training...

FC Pune City continued on their player acquisition spree as they added central defender, Roger Johnson to the squad for the upcoming edition of the Indian Super League (ISL).

The 32 year old had started his career with Wycombe Wanderers in 1998 and made an appearance against Cambridge United in the Football League One at the age of 17 years.

While a stint with Cardiff City in the Championship was a fruitful affair, the Englishman's goal was achieved when he turned out for Birmingham City in the Premier League in 2009.

After spending two seasons with the Blues, Johnson switched to fellow Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers but was relegated at the end of the 2011-12 Premier League season.

He also had a short stint at West Ham United on loan in the 2013-14 Premiership before joining Charlton Athletic in the Championship, following his termination by Wolves.

Charlton only finished 12th and Johnson was let go in May, 2015.

Having played in England throughout his career, Johnson was excited about his adventure to India.

 “This will be a completely new experience in my career. I am excited to be a part of FC Pune City’s ambitious plans to bring home the Indian Super League title this season. Along side the head coach David Platt and other top signings I hope to share my experience with the boys in the side and make a difference,” said the central defender

Head coach David Platt earmarked him as a leader in defense and said, “Roger is a defender with great experience. He is solid in his defensive duties and exceptional vocal organizer which is a quality that will help the players around him.”

Roger Johnson will join the squad who are traveling to Turkey for pre-season.