No interest in East Bengal, we want to create legacy with Odisha FC: Owner

Indian Super League side Odisha FC owner Rohan Sharma on Thursday quashed speculation of a possible tie-up with East Bengal and said it requires a delicate balance to merge with a historical team.

Last month, the RPSG Group, the principal owner of ATK, acquired majority stake in the country's oldest club Mohun Bagan which will go with a merged name in the next ISL season.

With East Bengal's investors, Quess Corporation, all set to snap their ties with the club by May 31, there were talks of an ATK-like merger of East Bengal with neighbouring state's Odisha FC.

"Not at all. Not even close (to ink a deal) because Odisha and Kolkata have always been arch-rivals. (There cannot be one team between the two cities). It's always an Odisha-versus-Kolkata (Bengal) kind of a thing," Sharma told PTI from Bhubaneswar, on the eve of their home match against North East United FC.

"We have no interest. There's absolutely no truth to it. I've absolutely zero interest in East Bengal. We just got a team, we don't want to revamp anymore."
"I'm happy being Odisha FC for the people of Odisha. I don't want to change it by adding another club. Want to make this club 'for the people, of the people, by the people' of Odisha kind of thing."
Talking about the ISL, he said: "It's good that the league is growing. Now you have an AFC Champions League berth. It's good to see more matches, focus on having an European-like league. Having more I-League clubs obviously helps."
"I would like to see a two-tier system with promotion and relegation like the basic club leagues all the world have. We are starting on the path. Hopefully, in the next two years, I think we'll have a proper two tier system where."