Mohun Bagan's Subhas Bhowmick threatens to move court alleging payment irregularities

Kolkata: Going through an acute financial crunch, Mohun Bagan were today dealt another blow when the sacked technical director Subhas Bhowmick threatened to move court alleging payment irregularities.

Claiming that Mohun Bagan still owe Rs 5.79 lakh to him, Bhowmick said: "It's my hard earned money and they cannot deny me my dues which the club claim is only Rs 3.87 lakh. I have spoken to my lawyer and have decided to take legal action.

"In any event if the club fails to pay my dues, the club would be wound up in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act," he said.

Mohun Bagan had sacked Bhowmick on December 4, citing reasons that the veteran failed to comply to AFC 'A' licence coaching degree, a must as per the AIFF guidelines.

Challenging his termination, Bhowmick said: "It's full of contradictions. The club very well knew that I did not possess the licence while appointing me for an agreement amount of Rs 50 lakh. There's nothing to hide here."

Mohun Bagan, however, have assured to "clear the dues".

"We have asked our accounts department to look into it and we will clear the dues on basis of that as early as possible," Mohun Bagan general secretary Anjan Mitra said.

On sacking Bhowmick, Mitra said they had followed the AIFF guidelines.

In the wake of the financial scam in the State, Mohun Bagan are facing the biggest crisis in their 125-year history as funding has dried up, and players have not got their salaries.

The club's principal sponsor, United Spirits Limited, which has now been taken over by Diageo Plc from the UB Group, is understood to have pulled the plug on its sponsorship deal.

"Yes there've been problems but we are trying our best to come out of it. I've met the players and their salaries would be cleared very soon," said Mitra.

In pursuit of an elusive silverware for five seasons, Mohun Bagan will begin their I-League season against Mumbai FC at the Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan here on Sunday.