KOLKATA: With this season’s I-League staring at the possibility of a cancellation, the

management is now waiting for the All India

Federation’s call on the fate of the competition. Interestingly, East Bengal have already written to the

, asking it to render the league null and void if it can’t be completed.

East Bengal were second on the standings with 23 points from 16 matches. However, any football action unlikely to return next month, the AIFF is likely to call off the league with Mohun Bagan having already sealed the championship with 39 points from 16 matches.

Mohun Bagan have merged with ISL’s ATK, paving way for them to play in the franchisee-based competition, which is now the country’s top club league.

However, if the past season — whether it remains incomplete or not — is something the club would like to forget, it’s the future that concerns the red-and-golds management more right now.

Days before the country woke up to the threat of coronavirus, East Bengal were learnt to have made quite a headway towards playing in the ISL. Apart from seeking help from chief minister Mamata Banerjee, a potential investor was also understood to have shown interest in helping them realize the dream, post-Quess separation, in this respect.

Although nobody when football action will return in the country, East Bengal want to keep themselves all fired up and ready to grab any opportunity in the changed perspective.

“We have already started building a strong team,” senior club official Debabrata Sarkar said.

When asked if the club’s recent team-building spree has anything to do with the steps towards featuring in the country’s top league, Sarkar didn’t divulge much.

“We are keeping many options open. We are battle ready for any possibility. At the same time, we strongly believe that if Mohun Bagan can play in the ISL, we can do so too,” he added.