Another blow for Indian football as Wahingdoh joins I-League exodus

The I-League on Saturday suffered another jolt with Shillong-based Royal Wahingdoh deciding not to play in the upcoming season, citing 'lack of proper roadmap for the league' and financial inviability, thereby becoming the third club to pull out of the nation's top football competition.

Wahingdoh said that the club will, however, continue to focus its activities towards youth development programme.

"In the current scenario, we feel that it would be more prudent to utilize the funds that are required to play in the I-League for initiatives that would help promote our vision. Moreover, the lack of clarity for a proper roadmap for the I-League and its teams and the financial impracticality thereof has been the major factor for pulling out of the tournament," the club said.

"RWFC have always strived to provide a platform for talented footballers to develop themselves into potential national team players through huge investments of time, money and resources. We will concentrate on our Youth Development Programme that has already witnessed strong representation in the national squad. RWFC will continue to ply its trade in the Shillong Premier League, U-18 I-League, U-15 I-League and other regional and national tournaments," it added.

Earlier this year, Pune FC and Bharat FC had pulled out of the top division league.

Wahingdoh played in the I-League for the first time last season and finished third under coach Santosh Kashyap.

The club had recently failed to comply with AFC licensing criteria as their home stadium does not adhere to the credentials. However, Wahingdoh was granted National Licenses to compete in I-League 2015-16.

Sources said that the uncertainty over the future of I-League and reports of its merger with Indian Super League could have contributed in the Shillong side pulling out.

"There is certainly an uncertainty on the fate of small clubs like Wahingdoh if I-League is merged with ISL. So, they might be thinking that if they have to lose out in future (in case there is a merger), then why not they pull out now. That will save them for spending a few crores in running the club for I-League," a source said.

Last year, the league was played among 11 teams and out of those, eight teams remain with the pulling out of three clubs -- Pune FC, Bharat FC and Royal Wahingdoh. With new entrants DSK-Shivajians, the I-League 2015-16 could be competed among nine clubs.

The 2015-16 I-League is expected in start in January next year after the end of the ongoing Indian Super League on December 20.