SC East Bengal began their team-building process on Thursday even as another transfer ban loomed over the club.

While free players like Ankit Mukherjee and Hira Mondal are all set to wear the red-and gold jersey in ISL VIII, the All India Football Federation, in a letter to SC East Bengal, said unless the latter clear Pintu Mahata’s dues by August 31, another transfer ban will be imposed.

The club has already cleared Rakshit Dagar and Abhas Thapa’s dues. All these players were on the pay roll of Quess East Bengal.

It has been learnt that players to be signed for the new season will be told that their contracts could be extended by another season and SC East Bengal would let them know that by January 2022.

“The investor will have discussions with the club on the final agreement in the next few months. If the two parties can’t reach a consensus, then they may part ways. Maybe that’s why players have been told that a clearer picture would emerge after five months and only one-year contracts will be signed,” a source told The Telegraph.

On a positive note, SC East Bengal replied to the club’s letter sent on Wednesday thanking the officials for extending support to the football team.

The letter also stated that regarding team building for the season, the process of selection is done by the technical team headed by coach Robbie Fowler and then approved by the board of directors. SC East Bengal have requested the club to send a list of players with their credentials which will be forwarded to Fowler.

After months of uncertainty, the impasse over the club’s future this season ended on Wednesday following Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s intervention.