Hari Mohan Bangur, the Managing Director of Shree Cement, has voiced his concern for SC East Bengal’s future – criticising the club officials’ for their lacklustre attitude in honouring the agreement between the two organisations.
After months of uncertainty, the Kolkata giants roped in Shree Cements as their primary investor earlier in 2020, at the behest of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The cash influx allowed the Red and Golds to participate in the 2020/21 Indian Super League season, but Bangur claims that the club officials are yet to sign the final agreement and that the team-building process has been stalled due to the ongoing turmoil.
“I am not sure about the future of East Bengal. I don’t know how to give hope to the supporters? While we know that the supporters are waiting, we don’t want to make false promises. Today the situation has reached this place due to the negligence of the East Bengal officials.
They have been holding the matter for six months by not signing the final agreement. It is a one-minute job, but they are taking so much time. How will that work?”
Bangur said in a recent interview with the local media.
The deal between the club and its investors was agreed at Mamata Banejee’s office last summer, however, Bangur does not want her to be involved this time, asserting that the problem can be resolved soon.
“At the moment, we don’t want to involve Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. There is still time. The issue can get resolved as soon as the club officials sign the agreement.”
According to the agreement, East Bengal’s sporting rights and all its assets and properties (including intellectual) are to be transferred to Shree Cement East Bengal Foundation, a newly formed joint-venture by the two parties. But apparently, the officials declined to sign the final pact alleging a discrepancy between the term sheet and the final agreement.
The controversy has led to the departure of Matti Steinmann – who reportedly left the club over its unstable future despite having a year left in his contract. At the same time, superstar Bright Enobakhare is also unlikely to extend his deal with the Kolkata club.
