ATK acquires majority stake in Mohun Bagan
Kolkata: Mohun Bagan will be rechristened ATK-Mohun Bagan from next season after the iconic club merged with ATK FC on Thursday by selling the majority stake to the owner of the two-time Indian Super League winners.
The merged club will come into existence in June and will compete in the ISL 2020-21. The two sides will, however, play separately in the current I-League and ISL seasons. As per the deal, the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, who are the principal owners of ATK, will acquire majority shareholding of 80 per cent in Mohun Bagan Football Club (India) Private Limited.
Talking exclusively to PTI after the merger, RPSG Group Chairman Sanjiv Goenka said the merged club will be named ATK-Mohun Bagan and he would ensure that the identities of both Mohun Bagan and ATK remained intact. “The name of the new club would be ATK-Mohun Bagan. Identities of both Mohun Bagan and ATK will remain intact,” Goenka said. “Mohun Bagan now belongs to me. For me, what’s the difference between Mohun Bagan and ATK? We will see what’s the best and then take a call. I’ve always said Mohun Bagan is a Dada club for us (big brother),” he said when asked what would be the jersey colour and logo.
“It’s not my call. It’s a call that the operating management will take. Let the Board take a call, I will be happy with anything. Both are my jerseys today. It does not matter to me whether it’s this or that.”
He, however, hinted that merged club may keep both the jersey colours of green-and-maroon (Mohun Bagan) and red-and-white (ATK) for home and away matches. “We have not decided the colours of jersey. It’s not relevant right now. ” Said Goenka. (PTI)
