Mohun Bagan experiencing financial strains, reveal former executive committee members

The former officials also suggested that players could leave the club due to unpaid salaries.

The Mohun Bagan Executive Committee members who recently tendered their resignations from the club en masse held a press conference to explain their actions at the Calcutta Sports Journalist Club earlier today.

Former Football Secretary Satyajit Chatterjee started the proceedings by explaining why so many officials decided to resign and said, “We were forced to resign as officials of Mohun Bagan on the 30th of April. I am truly sorry for that. I always believe for the benefit of only one thing, which is the Mohun Bagan club itself.”

He further added, “We were forced to make the decision after how things transpired over the past month in which we felt that the club wasn’t progressing as we wanted."

"Our Executive Committee worked really hard to create a list of 25 players who will be in the squad next season and after creating that list along with the budget of the squad, we ourselves went to General Secretary Anjan Mitra’s house to provide him with the list," he asserted.

Chatterjee also revealed the aftermath as he continued, "he accepted the list and stated that he needed some time to confirm the budget and everything.”

Resignation letter of Satyajit Chatterjee to Mohun Bagan

“After a lot of back and forth, we decided to have a meeting last Wednesday in which two committee members whom I won’t name were an hour late. When the meeting started, I asked Anjan da to give some kind of assurance about the budget or squad, something which he couldn’t give. It was then when I decided to tell him that it was not possible for me to stay."

"I ask the remaining officials to do their best, but if the club is damaged in any form, then they won’t be forgiven by Mohun Bagan’s history or fans," stated an irate Chatterjee.

Executive Committee member Mahesh Tekriwal gave more insight into their meeting with the General Secretary as he said, “We have always seen Anjan da in a very respectable position. After having a meeting among our core five-man committee, I called Anjan da and asked for him to hold a private meeting which we held on Wednesday."

"After gathering at Anjan da’s house, we asked him about what we’re going to do regarding the budget, player salaries and everything to which he said that next season the team will only have three foreigners and asked us to forget about next season’s team," Tekriwal added.

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"There have been many people in Howrah who have told me to leave the club, which will probably teach Anjan da a lesson and because of the mounting pressure, I decided to leave the club after the meeting.”

Another Executive Committee member in Uttam Saha further stated that they had to work really hard to secure the signings of Lalchhawnkima and Willian Lalnunfela from Aizawl FC and have signed definite contracts for the 25 players. He also claimed that Mitra did not want their prolific striker Aser Dipanda Dicka to be released from the club and that they had to fight hard to keep him.

Saha also revealed that former Gokulam Kerala FC striker Henry Kisekka was signed on Mitra’s orders.

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Later on, the former committee members also revealed that there is a chance that some of these contracted players might leave the club due to the poor financial situation the Mariners are in right now. They also went on adding that there remains a possibility that the disgruntled players might report to the AIFF if Bagan fail to pay their due salaries of the past season.

It seems like things are in quite a complicated situation behind the curtains for the Mariners, who might be a sinking ship if their core officials keep on leaving like this.