THE I-LEAGUE COMMITTEE IS finally assembling in New Delhi to iron out the fine details regarding the 2017-18 season.
The top division league is supposed to kick off in November around the same time ISL kicks off. But several major aspects of the league - from matchday slots, telecast details to a finalizing all the participating clubs - is yet to be done.
The AIFF called for bids for new direct entry corporate clubs in order to make up for the departure of Bengaluru FC and the withdrawal of DSK Shivajians. But the first round of bids did not see any bid succeed and the second round of bids has not been opened yet.
The committee was originally supposed to open the bids and announce the new clubs on Friday but the event was postponed to this week. The process is likely to take place tomorrow or the day after. With 3 bids on the table, Gokulam FC (Malappuram) are tipped to be the favourites to gain entry into the I-League. The bid from Jaipur, Rajasthan is likely to be rejected for now, while the Ozone FC (Bengaluru) bid is uncertain as AIFF wants the second new team to be a revival of the Indian Arrows project; a team featuring players from India U-17 and U-19.
Representatives of all the participating clubs including NEROCA FC who earned promotion from the 2nd Division League, along with certain officials from key state associations, are travelling to New Delhi today to take part in the proceedings.