The Gopibagh club, who returned from a decade's wilderness to supreme success, won their maiden Premier and the National League titles in 2004 -- 30 years after being introduced to the top flight of domestic football.

The Oranges followed it up with their second consecutive Premiership crown in 2005 but as the new season starts come February with the inaugural Professional Football League, they would be under the threat of losing their present status.

With Abahani and Muktijoddha sharing all the top footballers even before the transfer talks had begun, local heavyweights Brothers and National League holders Mohammedan were left in the cold.

Brothers, however, could consider themselves more fortunate than Mohammedan regarding the cache of experienced booters they have.

While Mohammedan will have to entirely rely on mediocrity, Brothers secured contracts of 19 footballers including a number of veterans in Jewel Rana, Masud Rana, Monwar, Liton and Shuvra and tested players like striker Topu and goalkeeper Mohammed Ali just before the Eid vacation. They have three more players as reserve but without contract.

There had been rumours that the Gopibagh outfit suffered due to fund crisis but manager and former club captain Amer Khan denied the claims.

"It is not true. Actually, we have lost most of our players to Abahani who paid huge amounts to get them. We did not want to double the transfer money for the footballers," Amer told The Daily Star Sports Yesterday.

"We also lost several players in the last season but replaced them with guys who had spent mostly in the bench in big clubs. They have gone on to play for the national team and I know it is difficult to find equal alternatives. But we have roped in players who are promising," said Amer mentioning Mohammedan fullback Rony, Youngmen's defender Ariful, Arambagh midfielder Rintu and Victoria's Polo.

They lost half a dozen Bangladesh internationals and the major players to leave Gopibagh are goalkeeper Tarek, defenders Siraji, Sujan, midfielders Pranotosh, Abul and striker Emily (all Abahani) apart from utility player Parvez Babu (Muktijoddha).

"With a mix of youth and experience, I believe we have the team that can go for the championship again. We can also use four foreigners and that would add to the strength.

"However, I don't want a local player to sit out because of foreign recruits. Footballers have been the losers because of the one-year gap. So if one player misses two seasons, he might be finished. We will see how the young players respond in the camp and then decide whether we would use our full quota of foreign imports or not.

"We were due to start camp today but most of the players could not attend due to the political programmes. Even if it is not a full house we will begin on Tuesday."

The two-time league champions have been assured of getting two old players -- Russian goal poacher Victor Edwards and Moroccan midfielder Hicham Inani -- again but have yet to solve management problems.

Admitting that coach Wajed Gazi has had talks with Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra too, Amer informed that they have given the veteran coach freedom of choice.

"He has returned from abroad and we had a talk today. He has not decided about which team to coach but I am confident he will solve the problem and stay with us.

"We don't want to hassle over him and we will respect whatever decision he takes," said Amer adding that as a backup, they have also talked with former Indian coach Syed Nayeemuddin who trained Brothers two seasons back.

SQUAD
GOALKEEPERS: Ali (Brothers), Sohel (Wanderers); defenders: Jewel Rana, Masud Rana, Shuvra, Jahangir (Brothers), Rony (Mohammedan), Lajuk (Abahani), Ariful (Youngmen's), Dulal (Arambagh); midfielders: Liton, Liton Khan, Monwar, Mamun (Brothers), Rintu (Arambagh), Jalal (Wanderers), Polo (Victoria); forwards: Topu, Shoeb (Brothers), Manju (Mohammedan), Rony (Farashganj), Shakil (Arambagh).