Cash-strapped Mohun Bagan to sue principal sponsor USL

It's reliably learnt that USL has not paid a single penny to Mohun Bagan from November 2014 to March 2015.

Kolkata: City football giants Mohun Bagan would file a creditors liquidation case against their principal sponsor United Spirits Limited (USL) for not paying their dues which have now increased to Rs.4.5 crore.

Club general secretary Anjan Mitra alleged that USL has not paid a single penny to the club from November 2014 to March 2015.

"We had a 10-year agreement from 2013 to 2023 with USL. From November 2014 to March 2015 we have not received the Rs 4.5 crore which is due. Inspite of repeated requests they did not pay much attention. So we have no other option but to take a legal step and file a creditors liquidation case against them in two to three days time," Mitra told reporters here.

"We will file it in the Bengaluru High Court," he added.

Mohun Bagan footballers were recently seen in Calcutta Football League (CFL) without the McDowell's logo on their chest, though they flaunted it in the I-League last year.

"Look, we have done whatever the sponsor wants. We have won the I-League and had their logo on our jersey. During the CFL we were fed up waiting for the money and decided to try and attract some other sponsors," he said.

The city footballing heavyweights have been in a financial crisis for over a year now and Mitra said till date he has no clue on how to solve it except the legal stand they are taking now against USL.

"We are not thinking of any other sponsors as of now. We will have to implement the USL contract. The last time they spoke to us they told us to forget about the Rs.4.5 crore and said they would pay Rs.2 crore for this season. Now tell me, can we build a team with this sum of money?," Mitra questioned.

Mitra surprisingly added the footballers will have no problems even if they are not paid for two or three months.

"Some footballers will play even if they are not paid for some months, others can leave but that won't stop Mohun Bagan," Mitra added.