MUMBAI: Frustrated over the slow pace of progress in terms of improvement in the I-League?s functioning and wanting to improve how football is managed in the country, representatives of Indian football clubs met over the weekend in Goa and formed a body called the ?I-League Professional Football Clubs Association?.

The body proposed that the association should be registered under the society?s Act 1960 by 30 June. One issue that was discussed was about the promise of a revised I-League structure made by IMG Reliance, which has not happened despite the deadline of 20 April having gone by.

The clubs were also unhappy with the circulation of the calendar for the upcoming season without their views being considered.

"The clubs have fulfilled all criteria barring one, by not signing the National Club Licensing but the member association have not fulfilled any criteria. What we are asking for is not unrealistic - every good league in the world is a separate entity in which the clubs are the stake holders. We want to improve the standard of football in India and we are ready to do everything from our end as well," said the general secretary Chirag Tanna.

The managing committee will have all the 13 clubs. The office bearers are President: Raj Gomes; VP Debashish Dutta, VP SR Dasgupta, VP Armando Colaco; General Secretary: Tanna and Treasurer Victor Fernandes.

Tanna added, "We are trying to get together and make the I-League a profitable venture but the biggest aim is to get Indian I-League clubs to play in the Asian Champions League. There has been some communicated in the past about I-League clubs not submitting certain documentation to the AIFF. However, that has been done."

The clubs owners and representatives recognise the fact that they need to improve but there have to be certain commitments wherein the clubs can go out to earn in return.

"This is why we have not yet signed the National Club Licensing," said Tanna.