Panaji: A dozen Jamshedpur FC players, including five with two-year contracts, have been paid in full by the club and given the freedom to “pursue other opportunities”, a move that could help them earn double of their contracted value.When Jamshedpur FC decided to shut down first team operations and transfer their sporting license to Churchill Brothers FC, the 12 contracted players and two coaches were given a choice of continuing in the Indian Super League (ISL) with the Goan club.“This has been proposed considering the sporting interest of the players and with the intention that they continue playing top flight professional football in India,” club CEO Mukul Choudhari wrote in an email to all contracted players and coaches. “Hence, we request you to confirm if you would like to pursue this opportunity to play for Churchill Brothers in the ISL. Kindly note that in the event you choose to do so, your balance salary from Sept 2026 till the end of your contract will be paid for by Churchill. Also, in case you do not wish to do so and pursue other opportunities, Jamshedpur Football and Sporting Private Limited remains committed to clear all your dues as per contract.”None of the players or coaches chose to move to Churchill, so their dues for the rest of the season – and even for the next one, as per their contracts – have now been cleared in full by Jamshedpur.“The players have nothing to complain,” a source who has tracked the development told TOI on Friday. “Jamshedpur wanted good parting of ways. No other club would have taken care of them like this. Jamshedpur’s decision means the players not just get paid in full but they can also receive additional money by signing with another club (for the rest of the season). It’s win-win for the players.”At least two players, Nikhil Barla (NorthEast United) and Lalhriatouia Chawngthu (Chennaiyin FC) have already moved to different clubs, while young Mohammedan Sanan is waiting for ownership change at Kerala Blasters FC and former India midfielder Pranoy Haldar is close to completing a move to Sreenidi Deccan in the second tier.Several other players are waiting for clarity on Inter Kashi FC, who are expected to have new investors.ISL-winning coach Owen Coyle was contacted by another top tier club to join them till the end of season but the former Premier League manager politely declined to take over the team.Last month, Tata Steel approved the transfer of its entire 100% stake in Jamshedpur FC to Churchill for a nominal consideration of ₹100. The sporting license that allowed Jamshedpur to compete in the ISL since 2017 has also been transferred to Churchill, a two-time national league winning club, owned by former Goa chief minister Churchill Alemao.
