I-League Is Looking For English Investors, Offers 'Sister Club' Franchises

All India Football Federation Secretary Kushal Das "will travel to Manchester, England this week to try and attract more bids for I-League franchises, after successful talks with investors in Dubai and Delhi," according to Ashley Hammond of GULF NEWS. The top of his list of targets "are thought to be European clubs interested in co-branding opportunities, where in exchange for vast merchandising potential, clubs can offer their technical expertise to a ‘sister club’ in India’s top-flight football league." Das said that representatives from English Premier League sides Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers and Venky’s Group, the owners of second-tier side Blackburn Rovers, "have already expressed an interest." Das said, "We’ve had European clubs visit India to play and train on promotional tours before, but this is an entirely different opportunity for them, which has never been done before. It offers huge potential in return on their investment" (GULF NEWS, 4/8).