Tutu Basu steps in to clear Mohun Bagan's pending player salaries

A NEW TWIST IN THE Mohun Bagan power struggle occurred today when club president Swapan Sadhan Basu stepped in to clear the players' past due payments.

Popularly known as Tutu Basu among the fans, the veteran administrator has been the main financial engine of the club for decades. With his son Srinjoy Basu leading the rebellion against club secretary Anjan Mitra ahead of club elections, the Mariners had entered a financial crisis with some salary of last season's players still pending. 

Mr Basu has stepped into the scene in a critical moment, providing Rs 1 crore to clear the due payments. He said as much in an email to Anjan Mitra circulated among the media,

"Dear Anjan,

I am deeply sad and disturbed at all the news reports about my beloved club which is going on all over the media. I am also equally concerned like my members and supporters about the present situation. What is more disturbing is that the players are not getting their salary for the last 3 months. I believe that we might have many differences but that should not affect the players because it is them who plays and brings glory and laurels to our club. And also such news creates a bad name for our club among the other players all over the country.

In view of the above I have decided to give Rupees One Crore so that the salaries of players can be paid on an urgent basis. I request you to ask the GM of our company Mr. Suman Ghosh to speak to Srinjoy and arrange to take the payment immediately.

Assuring you of my services at all times for my beloved club Mohun Bagan.

Warm regards

Tutu"

This move ensures that Mohun Bagan will be able to clear the players' payments before May 31st which is the official deadline. Reportedly, this is a clearance of due payment from the shipping company Ripley, which was a co-sponsor of Mohun Bagan last season, and is under the ownership of Basu himself. The email, however, frames this as an act of charity from Basu for the club he loves.

The gesture to provide financial help in a time of need can both be seen as an act of goodwill towards the club and also an attempt to boost his image as the 'problem solver' of the club to the fans and members.

The Basu and the Mitra factions have been at odds for months regarding which direction the club should take and they differ on whether the Mariners should go through structural change in order to join the Indian Super League. A detailed discussion of the power struggle at the club is available on the latest episode of the TFG Indian Football Podcast.

With the club set to hold elections in July, both factions are now trying hard to amass goodwill. The Mitra faction will now be under increased pressure to demonstrate their effectiveness in running the club.