By Mark Baber
August 30 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) have disbanded the Pailan Arrows, a Kolkota-based I-League club set up in 2010 to nurture young Indian talent for the 2018 World Cup.
The AIFF had planned to disband the club next season, but lack of financial commitment from sponsors Pailan Group, who did not want to pay the franchise fee for next season, has prompted the AIFF to close the club down with immediate effect.
AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said: “The sponsors have failed to make any financial commitment for the forthcoming season. The infrastructure (at Pailan on the outskirts of the city) is also in a bad shape. We tried our best to save the team but now we have been forced to disband the team. In the 2013-14 I-League season, there will be 14 teams,”
Das continued: “The 20 players are contracted with the AIFF and would continue getting salaries. Some of them would play for I-League clubs while others will play for India Under-23 side.”
Pailan Group chairman Apurba Saha said, “I’m out of town, I have no details as of now… we will keep you informed.”
The job of developing new talent will now fall upon the remaining I-League teams with Das explaining: “Beginning 2013-14 season, we have made it mandatory for all I-League clubs to register a minimum of five U-23 players, include two of them in their final 18 and one in their playing XI. Thus, the interest of the U-23 players will be protected.”
The club was launched in 2010 as the AIFF XI before changing its name to the Indian Arrows. It competed in three I-League seasons enjoying Nike kit in its first season (when it achieved its best finish of ninth in the I-League) and shirt sponsorship from Poto Potato Flakes from 2011-13 when it finished 13th and 12th.
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