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United Kerala players yet to be paid
As if the disappointment of relegation from the I-League wasn’t enough, the United Kerala squad is now dealing with the frustration of not receiving payments for the last two months.
As if the disappointment of relegation from the I-League wasn’t enough, the United Kerala squad is now dealing with the frustration of not receiving payments for the last two months.
Manager Prasanthan K revealed to HT that their Kolkata-based owners Chirag have not been responding to their phone calls and emails.
“Ever since our last I-League match against Mumbai FC on May 6, owners Chirag are not answering our phone calls and emails. We don’t know what to say to the players, as they have not been given their salary for the last two months,” Prasanthan told HT.
Prasanthan further stated that when Chirag bought the club back in August 2011, an agreement was made to pay Viva Kerala Pvt Limited (the company Chirag bought the club from) Rs 3.75 crore. Instead, according to Prasanthan, Chirag have paid just Rs 75 lakh.
“They have paid us only R75 lakh of the Rs 3.75 crore that was mentioned in the deal that they signed with us. In that deal, there is no clause that states that if we get relegated, they won’t pay the whole amount. But last month in an email, they told us that if the team gets relegated they may not make the full payment.”
Chirag owner Kaustav Roy didn’t take HT’s call but vice-president Rana Bandyopadhyay said, “I can’t comment”. But senior players K Ajayan and Anil Kumar confirmed that the players haven’t received their salaries.
