Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia said on Wednesday that a merger of the newly floated Indian Super League (ISL) and the long-running I-League is neither going to happen nor was it advisable.
The first season of ISL was a huge success and I want it to be better in season 2. But I don’t see it (ISL merging with I-League) happening. ISL is a three-month long tournament and has attracted some very big names like Roberto Carlos. I don’t want ISL to merge with I-League.
— Baichung Bhutia
Earlier this month, All-India Football Federation (AIFF) President Praful Patel said, after a joint meeting with I- League clubs and ISL organisers - IMG-Reliance - that a united league was the way forward but it would take some time to happen.
Faced with the prospect of closure of two Pune-based I-League teams, AIFF decided to form a working group as a precursor to merge the two championships.
We are working towards one entity in future - the I-League clubs and the ISL. A working group will be formed, about nine members, to work out the way.
— Praful Patel
Bhutia sympathised with the predicament of the two Pune-based I-League clubs, Pune FC and Bharat FC, who are thinking of shutting shop in the near future.
I can understand their position. It’s not easy as sponsorship is difficult to get. I-league does not get the kind of TV viewership and mileage like ISL. I had my own club Sikkim United and though it’s not shut down, I am running it at a smaller scale. He said the one small difference between his club and the Pune outfits was that the latter were backed by corporates and he advised them to develop a good fan base and also to spend wisely.
—Baichung Bhutia
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