NEW DELHI: There are promises from one section of the All India Football Federation that India will witness a clutch of international superstars playing franchisee football in its backyard. And there are apprehensions and fears from another quarter about IMG-Reliance’s proposed new league, scheduled for a January launch.

In such a scenario, the AIFF and IMG-R has decided to finally stop dragging its feet and to come out with a strong statement on Thursday after the Executive Committee meeting at the Football House here.

The marketing partners are going to unveil a detailed plan of the proposed league to the executive committee and get it endorsed by the stakeholders.

AIFF’s senior vice-president Subrata Dutta had earlier praised the sponsor’s effort to give a new lease of life to Indian football. “The IMG-R has already signed up some of the biggest names in world football who will be the marquee players for the eight franchises,” he said.

Shrinivas Dempo, AIFF vice-president and owner of India’s most successful club in the last decade, however, is not so optimistic. “I fail to understand how Reliance-style league will actually be benefiting to football in general,” Dempo has gone on record, expressing his doubts.

According to sources, there will be eight franchisees from ten cities and the bidding process will happen in September next month. Each team will have 22 players. Nine will be foreign recruits with one marquee player involved who will also be the ambassador of the team. IMG-R has already ensured the services of 57 Indian players (37 free agents plus 20 from the Pailan Arrows) for the two-month tournament.

“We are only short of seven players for now,” the source added. The venues have been worked out and refurbishing work is about to start. After the tournament finishes, the venues can be used for I-League, the marketing partners assured. To allay the fears of the clubs, they are also planning to host the second edition of the tournament without disturbing the I-League schedule.

Among the names doing the rounds for this new tournament are David Beckham, Michael Owen, Raul Gonzales, Ronaldinho and Kaka though the sponsors didn’t confirm any of it as of now.

Among other things, the meeting will also take a final decision on the calendar as the I-League schedule has not been finalised yet due to the franchisee-based football issue.

IMG-Reliance are AIFF’s marketing partners since December 2010 after Zee pulled out midway through their 10-year deal.

Among other issues to be discussed are:

Date of GB meeting to amend constitution as per Sports Code, I-League 2nd Div concerns over funds and Disciplinary code of players.