Goenka dismisses concern over stadium availability as ATK give new look team

Arnab Mandal and Jewel Raja are the only Indian players from last season in the new squad that features Shilton Paul, Debjit Majumdar, Pritam Kotal, Bikramjit Singh, Kingshuk Debnath, Bidyananda Singh Ningthoujam, Bikash Jairu, Dika, Robert Lalthlanumna and Prabir Das.

Asked about the new look side, Mr Sanjiv Goenka, Chairman Rp-Sanjiv Goenka Group and Co-owner ATK, said: "Our aim is not to not do badly. We want to win. So we wanted to select a team that could help us achieve what we want."  

The team has retained the foreign recruits Ian Hume, Jose Luis Arroyo, Sameehg Doutie and Oftense Nato and have signed Stephen Pearson, Dani Mailo and Pablo Zurera.

On whether the coach had any say on the team selection, Mr Goenka said: "No the coach has just joined. We depended on the wisdom of the selectors for choosing the team. All teams want to get the best players. We are no exception. However, the core of the team with the four foreign players and two Indian counteroparts is the same."

Mr Goenka sounded hopeful about getting Salt Lake Stadium for the season. "We are in talks. Let us see. We are very hopeful. If not we have to get an alternate within the city."

He also completely dismissed the chance of aligning with either East Bengal or Mohun Bagan. Goenka also refused to confirm whether Diego Forlan would come in as a marquee player for the side.