NPFL: Board threatens to deregister clubs

The League Management Company is set to deregister clubs that fail to meet its requirement for participation in the Nigeria Professional Football League as from next season.
The Chairman of the LMC, Hon. Nduka Irabor, dropped this hint at a parley with journalists in Lagos on Tuesday.
Irabor said the mandate given to him was to restructure the league, stressing that any team that fails to meet the requirements would be disqualified from taking part in the league from next season.
He said: “We have observe that most teams lack structure like poor facilities, they don’t pay players adequate salary, no contract and make things difficult for the agents.”
Nduka stressed that if the current teams in the elite league fail to meet the standard being propound by his committee, they could be disqualified from playing next season.
He added: “What we have now is an aberration.
“It’s not the league we envisage.
“We are trying to put structure in place, put up a template for a virile league.
“Therefore, we will set conditions, which clubs must meet before registration.”
Irabor equally declared he does not need the consent of the club owners to discharge his duties.
Reacting to statement credited to the club owners on his style of administration, Irabor said recent development has technically knocked the managers out as major stakeholders in the league.
He said: “I don’t have to seek the consent of the clubs before we register the company.
“We have been given a mandate by the Nigeria Football Federation and only them can give us directive.
“We were asked to restructure the league.”
On allegation that he arrogated 20 per cent shares to himself, Irabor said: “It’s not possible for an individual to arrogate interest to himself.
“I’m only holding the shares on trust, which I will relinquish after my tenure and I’ve already deposited sworn affidavit to that effect.
“This is a transitory period.
“The LMC shares will be taken up by the participating teams after they meet the criteria already being determined.”