East Bengal officials on Thursday called on chief minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna and had a discussion about the club’s new investors, sources told The Telegraph.
It has been learnt that three companies have shown interest and talks are at an advanced stage with two of them.
Even though East Bengal’s former investors Quess are yet to relinquish the football rights, the meeting with the chief minister suggests that the club is confident of getting the rights back.
East Bengal and Quess parted ways on May 31, but the sporting rights are still with Quess East Bengal Football Club Pvt Ltd, which had 70 per cent stake. East Bengal are under pressure to get the rights back since they have to finish the club-licensing process by July 31.
The date for submitting the documents and presentation was earlier slated for July 24 but after East Bengal’s request, the All India Football Federation extended it by seven days.
“We would complete all the procedures within the given time,” a senior club official said.
Mohun Bagan have already joined hands with ATK and formed ATK Mohun Bagan FC, which will play in the ISL.