ISL franchises get three extra days to sign marquee player

The deadline for signing marquee foreigners in the Indian Super League has been extended by three days, Sportskeeda can reveal.

Following a workshop in Mumbai towards the end of April, the franchises had suggested to ISL organisers IMG-Reliance that they would like to sign their marquee player by themselves. IMG-R had agreed to that suggestion but they retained the final say on whether a foreigner qualifies as a marquee player or not.

All franchises were asked to sign their marquee foreigners by June 30 but due to several requests the deadline has been extended.

“Indian Super League appreciates the fact that most of its league partners have made an honest attempt in trying to bring in the best marquee players for their respective teams, and are at the final stages of completing contract formalities. Considering the request from league partners, ISL has granted one-time extension on signing marquee player deadline by three days, i.e. Thursday, 3rd July 2014,” an ISL spokesperson was quoted saying.

Much like USA’s MLS, the ISL will have a player draft system so in case any franchise fails to finalise their marquee foreigner they will be able to get one from IMG-R’s own list of marquee players.

“However, should a league partner is unable to meet the new deadline, ISL will source the marquee player on the clubs' behalf. These players, then, will form part of a central marquee player pool,” the spokesperson added.

It was learnt that many of the franchises are looking to sign their marquee foreigners as player-manager. The Goa franchise reportedly identified former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler as their player-manager but the former England international did not fulfil the criteria of being a marquee player.