The club representatives declared at a press conference at a local hotel yesterday that they would not take part in the players' transfer formalities, which is scheduled to begin on September 1, until the BFF signed written agreement with them.

On the other hand, BFF in its reaction said that everything should be settled on mutual understanding and it was absurd to demand a fixed amount of monetary compensation for any kind of delay.

With the two sides heading in opposite directions, it seems that the football season this year is unlikely to roll onto the field and the players, who have already submitted a memorandum to the federation where they mentioned that they would take to the streets and boycott all national duties if the BFF failed to start the transfers on schedule, appear to be the ones to suffer.

It's now more than a year that there was no inter-club players' transfer since the last Premier Division Football League had ended in August last year.

BFF has taken the initiative to start the Professional League as per Asian Football Confederation prescription under the VisionAsia project to give the traditional Premier League a backseat.

"We are ready to take part in the players' transfer and play the league as per schedule (from the first week of November). But the reality is that the under-construction Bangabandhu National Stadium is unlikely to be ready before next January and we have had a condition to arrange the competition at BNS," said Mustaqur Rahman, co-ordinator of the 12 participating clubs.

"And now our position is clear that the BFF should give us a written assurance that they will give every club Tk 20,000 per day as compensation if they failed to start the league on time. Otherwise there is no chance to see the clubs participating in the transfers," added Mustaqur, who is also the additional general secretary of the Mohammedan Sporting Club.

Acting BFF general secretary Monjur Hossain Malu however dismissed the demand, saying that everybody should consider the greater interest of the game before taking any tough stance.

"BFF president (SA Sultan) has already sent letters to the respective clubs where he mentioned that federation will compensate the clubs if it failed to start the league on time, but everything should be settled on mutual understanding," said Malu.

On the other hand Mizanuddin Ahmed, general secretary of Brothers Union Club, told the press that it was hard to keep faith in the current BFF authority anymore.

"We have agreed to play the Professional League because Kazi Salahuddin requested us to start it for the greater interest of the game. But the reality is the league chairman is no more with the federation," said Mizan.

Ashrafuddin Ahmed Chunnu, director of Abahani Limited, Sheikh Ataur Rahman, vice-chairman of the Muktijoddha Sangsad, president of Sheikh Russel Nurul Alam Chowdhury, Mobinul Islam, general secretary of Arambagh Krira Sangha, were also present at the briefing.