East Bengal wants to re-sign players - But only if players accept Pay-Cut

East Bengal are in the news yet again and certainly its not for the good. Under its investor Quess, the club terminated contracts of all its players last month. Just over ten days later, the club (this time sans Quess) got back to the players having multiple years contract and ask them to accept a pay-cut. Otherwise, they might not be re-signed.

The termination of contracts, that included withholding a months salary, was carried out by East Bengal’s outgoing investors, Quess. The act, which was executed, without consulting the players has drawn enough flake from all quarters. In a damage-control mode, the club assured players having long-term commitment that their existing contracts would be honoured and they would soon be re-signed.

The club also went on a signing spree - recruiting many new players to build a competitive squad, to coax its fans to believe that it will play the Indian Super League. Many of the players are understood to have been signed for big money. So, forcing players with multiple contracts to accept a pay-cut to get re-signed or face the axe is something not expected specially at a time when the club is into its centenary year.

“We are just being bullied,” one player told TMIndia, on condition of anonymity. “They know we are in a vulnerable situation as most clubs have finalised their Indian players. So, they are just taking advantage of the situation.”

“I know players who have been signed for big money. Now they want to cut our salaries. This is not justified,” he added.