As preparations for the next season of the Indian Super League (ISL) are shaping up, most of the clubs are gearing up with their player-signings. While other clubs are making announcements of their pre-season plans and signups, the Highlander Brigade is miffed with the NorthEast United FC management for being quiet.
One of the most struggling teams of the league, NorthEast United FC couldn’t gather enough steam last few seasons with even fans deserting the Guwahati-based side.
While the Highlander Brigade were among the last few who attended the home games last season, the fan-base, in a letter issued on Facebook, now has blamed the club for their incapability to run the affairs.
In the letter, the Brigade highlighted the importance of social media and how the club is silent and maintaining absolutely no conversation and engagement with the supporters. They even offered to help manage the club’s social media accounts ‘considering the club’s economic condition’. “We have heard that the club is under economic restrictions on their spending and therefore can’t even afford a social media manager. If so, then we have capable members under our fold who can manage the social media handles for free. The importance of social media in today’s time shouldn’t be neglected. Therefore our offer stands,” the letter said.
Further, the Brigade asserted that they want proper team selection and investment in the right areas. “The previous seasons have been very very troubling. Failing to reach the play offs in four seasons of which two seasons were downright disasters. So, it is the first priority to ensure that whatever happens at least get the team to the play offs,” the letter said.
Regarding the rumours of shutting down the NorthEast United FC’s academy in Shillong, the Brigade wrote: “It’s more disheartening when rumours are surfacing about the shutting down of the youth academy in Shillong. No proper vision for this season or seasons ahead can be seen. We hope for answers and we believe you will issue them soon.”
Giving example of Kerala Blasters FC who are scheduled to play an international pre-season tournament alongside La Liga side Girona and A-League side Melbourne City, the supporters’ group said that last minute preparation for the ISL will only make NeUFC suffer the same fate as earlier.
Sounding the last warning, the supporters’ group said that the management and the team should raise their game so that the fans continue to watch the game. “We have witnessed empty stadiums last season with only us crowding half of a stand being loyalists with certain amount of hope and hunger still left. Don’t let that die as well,” the letter said.
