SC East Bengal – the last year’s debutant is still in doubt over their Hero Indian Super League participation in the upcoming edition. The last-minute participation in season 7 cost them a good start and it was followed by a poor debut season. The tussle between the investor and the officials is the foremost problem as the investors have made a statement that “no further investments” will be made until both the parties sign in the final agreement.
Shree Cements Limited manager Hari Mohan Bangur expressed his concern about participating in the ISL. He also consulted Dr Pranab Mukherjee, who is the President of the club. After the initiation of Bengal’s CM Mamata Banerjee in June 2020, Shree Cements Limited was ready to invest in East Bengal and also paved the 100-year old club’s way to get into the ISL’s circuit. According to the agreement, the cement giants held 76% of the stake, where the club had only 24%. The term sheet was signed before the last season, but the final agreement was yet to be signed. Now the East Bengal officials are requesting a meeting to alter few points in the final term sheet before signing them.
The tussle has resulted in them losing most of their players from the last season. SC East Bengal announced that they would be looking forward to reshaping their foreign contingent Bright Enobakhare who joined the club mid-season has left and has joined English championship side Coventry City. most of their players left looking into the uncertain future of the club’s participation in the Indian Super League.
Sarthak Golui, who came from ISL Champion side Mumbai City FC mid-season, left SC East Bengal to join Bengaluru FC, where two experienced Bengali duo Debjit Majumder and Narayan Das went down to the south to play for the two-time champions Chennaiyin FC, Jacques Maghoma signed for Spalding United which is a Northern League Eastern Division side to maintain his fitness. Matti Steinmann also returned the A-league club Brisbane Roar, Lalramchullova who was there in the squad last season, also joined Mohammedan SC.
Ahead of the upcoming season, the 100-year old club is still uncertain of its future in the Calcutta Football League. Many reports suggest that if they don’t participate in the upcoming CFL 2021-22, they might face relegation, while on the other side, arch-rivals ATK Mohun Bagan FC has put the transfer market on fire.
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