ISL 2017/18: Minerva Punjab ready to pay Rs 15 crore franchise fee for Indian Super League entry
They may be flying high at the top of the I-League table, ahead of traditional giants like East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, but Minerva Punjab are not sitting back to rest on their laurels, as they push forward for their I-League challenge.
In fact, the team from Punjab are now mulling over the possibility of making their way into the cash-rich Indian Super League next season.
India has had two top leagues for almost four seasons now, and talks of a merger have been rife. As the All India Football Federation (AIFF) mulls over how to go about the merger, many different options seem to be on their table.
Before the start of the ongoing ISL season, two new teams, Jamshedpur FC and Bengaluru FC were added to the league after they agreed to pay the Rs 15 crore franchise fee. Now Minerva Punjab are also looking for a way into the cash-rich league.
"We are now in partnership with Apollo Tyres, and they have made it clear that they want to be in the ISL," Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj said to Sportskeeda. "So if the opportunity to pay the Rs 15 crore franchise fee to get an entry into the ISL does arise, we are definitely going for it."
Last year, Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan and East Bengal had refused to pay the Rs 15 crore franchise fee, paving the way for Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC to make their way into ISL.
Now, however, the Green and Maroon half of the City of Joy have also changed their stance regarding the fee, and are willing to pay it in order to get ISL entry next season. With Minerva Punjab now announcing their intent for the same as well, it remains to be seen what step the AIFF takes, in order to make the ISL a longer tournament with more teams.