Trimmed squads, drastic pay cuts and performance-linked perks are some of the steps that cash-strapped Indian football clubs are contemplating.
Trimmed squads, drastic pay cuts and performance-linked perks are some of the steps that cash-strapped Indian football clubs are contemplating to stay alive in the new season.
The economic meltdown has hit the I-League clubs hard and they have been told by their tight-fisted sponsors to find ways to slash unwarranted expenses.
But players are unfazed and feel that they would be the last to feel the pinch. Kolkata clubs Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, the biggest corporate beneficiaries, have been told by their sponsors United Breweries Group that their funding would come down to Rs.50 million from Rs65 million each while Essel Group, owners of Mumbai FC, is planning to trim the squad and also introduce variable pay based on performance.
Newly promoted Pune FC, run by the Ashok Piramal Group, are planning to make do with local talent while former national league champions JCT of Phagwara have decided not to splurge on big names.
Mohun Bagan have appealed to the UB Group for an increase in sponsorship money considering their good showing in the 2008-09 season, while East Bengal, who have no trophy to show during the period, are seeking doles from their supporters. Bagan’s secretary Anjan Mitra said that the club cannot be run on a shoe-string budget with the I-League getting expanded from 12 to 14 teams.
Mumbai FC’s promoter Essel Group said that they are geared up to face the challenge. “Like all global clubs, we will spend sensibly and will also reduce the squad strength to 25 from 34. We will closely monitor the players’ performance,” a club spokesperson said not wanting to be named. “Even if we decide to introduce performance-linked pay it will be across the board as it can’t be done for players alone.”
Surprisingly, this does not seem to have affected at least two Goa clubs, Churchill Brothers and Dempo. Churchill have announced hefty pay hikes for their players.
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