New Delhi: The All India Football Federation and Indian Super League clubs are exploring the idea of pulling in all their resources together to organise the top-tier tournament after a failed tender and have agreed to seek the Supreme Court’s approval next week.

With its back to the wall, the AIFF sent an SOS call on Wednesday to ISL clubs, their captains and I-League clubs to find a way to prevent the game from coming to a grinding halt.

Barring Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, all the other 11 ISL clubs and several of their players, including Sunil Chhetri, Sandesh Jhinghan, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and atleast three foreigners, answered that desperate call and appeared in separate meetings, where the possibility of making presentations in the apex court was discussed.

But I-League clubs stayed away, with eight of them deciding to converge in Delhi to meet Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday morning.

“Keeping in mind the fundamental importance of a multi- tier league National structure for the development of the football in the country (Tier 1-2-3), we suggest that all the three leagues in this case ISL, I League and I League-2 should be managed by one common league partner. This shall ensure long term holistic growth and sustainability to the National league ecosystem of the country,” eight I-League teams wrote to AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan.

The I-League teams also requested for an announcement season within the next 10 days of kick-off by December 15 and no later than January 5 with TV broadcast.

As several clauses on ownership, representation in decision making panel, promotion-relegation apart from stiff asking price turned interested bidders away, the AIFF have begun formulating an alternate plan for commercial rights of the ISL.

Apart from clubs and players, inputs were sought from executive committee members too in the 11th hour on Wednesday, before AIFF’s scheduled meetings with players and clubs.

While majority of the ExCo members didn’t think it prudent to make a suggestion, one member proposed seeking Court’s permission to negotiate with interested entities on open market.

ISL clubs, who had not warmed up to any of AIFF’s idea, including organisation of Super Cup, until clarity on the tournament’s future have now suggested to pay for broadcast of matches, similar to what I-League clubs did last season.

Two ISL clubs are in favour of pooling in around Rs 15-20 crore from all the participating teams to ensure matches are beamed live on TV.

This idea would be up for further discussion internally among the clubs on Thursday, alongside preparation for a presentation to the Court on Monday, subject to bid evaluation committee chairperson Justice LN Rao‘s submits his report on absence of bids by Friday.

The AIFF had earlier held a physical meeting with ISL clubs on August 7. Photo: @IndianFootball

Players, coaches and referees could also plead on their own volition to the Court, which the AIFF would gladly include in its plan of mentioning the matter on Monday and seek a hearing on Wednesday.

The federation and ISL clubs are looking at an early January start to the league after putting all operational plans in place within December 31.

“It was a reactive meeting rather than a proactive one,” summarised an AIFF official.

“The players said somehow the league should start, we are all waiting and ready to play. The uncertainty has gone on for too long.

“The clubs also said to find a way out, if possible approach the court too for a speedy resolution. One club offered that clubs can chip in money for broadcast by reducing costs.

“But it all depends what the Court says, but one thing is clear the league will happen.”