CHENNAI: Indian football may miss out on its biggest match next season if East Bengal can't find an investor within the next month and a half. While Mohun Bagan have joined hands with ATK and will play in the Indian Super League ISL ), East Bengal, after snapping ties with Quess, are finding it difficult to find a investor who will give them the financial support to play the league.With ISL being accorded the 'top-league' status and an AFC Champions League spot from 2021, East Bengal, with all its history and stature, want to play in the league instead of I-League. But it was learnt that in order to do so, East Bengal need to get their house in order by the first week of April. ISL authorities will formulate the league regulations (number of teams and other details) for the next season by April, which means that East Bengal have roughly 45 days to find a sponsor to become the 11th team in the league.Sources confirmed to TOI that FSDL, the organiser of ISL, is unlikely to extend the deadline to accommodate East Bengal. "ISL has become very competitive with each passing season . Now with AFC Champions League spot at stake, it would be a round the year work for the clubs, both in terms of pre-season preparation and competition. It's imperative that the regulations for next season are closed by April for clubs to get a good run time before the season starts. From this point, East Bengal do have their back to the wall. If they don't knock on the ISL door in time with a sound financial structure, it might be too late for them to turn the leaf," observed a source.Incidentally, this won't be the first time that the two clubs might not be playing in the same league. In the inaugural National Football League back in 1996-97, Bagan failed to qualify for the Championship Stage. Hence it became the first occasion since their formation when the big two of Indian football didn't participate together in the same league.However, industry experts say things aren't as gloomy as it looks. They say that a big brand like East Bengal will always have investors knocking at its door, provided the officials budge from their "50-50 demand".With East Bengal looking at a only "50-50" partnership with interested parties whereby 50 per cent of the shares stay with the club authorities, major investors are unwilling to back the club. "Bagan have already gone into an 80-20 model with ATK. If East Bengal come down from their 50-50 demand and take the Bagan route, there shouldn't be a problem to find a sponsor," an industry insider said.Interestingly, it was a 70-30 partnership with Quess and the industry is baffled why the East Bengal officials are playing hardball at this stage.East Bengal officials confirmed that they are running against time to find a sponsor and might have to settle for I-League next season. "At present, with Quess likely to move out in May, we don't have any prospective investors. If the corporates aren't interested in investing in our club according to our terms, it is fine with us. We are in talks with a few corporates but if things don't materialise we will be continue in I-League. It is also true that ISL needs us and we don't need them," officials said.