Shillong Lajong FC today made it official that they're exiting from their association with Guwahati-based Indian Super League football franchise NorthEast United FC.
The club has taken the decision to offload its holding in NEUFC in order to focus on 'Grassroots and Youth Development' in the North Eastern region.
"Lajong has decided to sell its stake in North East United in order to focus on our principal vision of building our youth development programmes for the North East region by creating tangible assets on the ground and inculcate the best of modern practices for youth development," SLFC managing director Larsing Ming Sawyan stated in the announcement.
"We remain committed to supporting the Indian Super League, IMGR and AIFF and shall continue to release our players for the ISL," he added.
SLFC and Bollywood star John Abraham had entered into a partnership last year to successfully bid for the ISL franchise which played its inaugural season with a base in Guwahati.
14 Shillong Lajong players from the various North-Eastern states such as Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and Sikkim plied their trade for NEUFC.
Shillong Lajong FC were the first team from the region to qualify for the I-League and were instrumental in bringing the ISL to the region, the statement said.
