Coca-Cola, who are reportedly keen to associate themselves with football in the country, are an immediate choice, according to AIFF sources. The League is scheduled to begin in the third week of December.

The AIFF is hoping that Phillips, who sponsored the previous two editions of the League, would change their stand. The hope stems from the memories of a similar drama that was staged last year. Phillips had threatened to pull out of the deal but changed their mind and renewed their contract with the Federation.

Phillips are not happy with the way the league was conducted last year, it is learnt. Unlike in 1996, the inaugural year, there were plenty of organisational lapses that made the major event a laughing stock. The controversies started even before kick-off, on the day Mohun Bagan and FC Kochin were inducted intothe League by the AIFF, sidestepping rules and regulations.

The fixtures were announced just one week before the inauguration of the league, and were constantly revised, upsetting the entire schedule of the tournament. Worse still, the attendance too was poor, except for a few matches in Goa and Calcutta.

Despite AIFF's decision to sign a new deal with Doordarshan, a majority of the crucial matches were not shown `live' last year. Even the telecast of recorded matches were of poor quality. It was a breach of the contract, according to Phillips.

According to sources, the AIFF is not too bothered about the sponsors' lack of interest in the League, as the sale of TV rights alone is likely to fetch a fortune to the Federation. However, if the deal with the Coca-Cola materialises, there is likely to be a substantial increase in the prize money.

Priyaranjan Das Munshi, the AIFF president, was recently quoted as saying that it would be too difficult to find sponsors for the League, in view of the West Bengalgovernment's rules which, he said, provides no incentives for the sponsors. The sponsors are not even permitted to display hoardings inside the stadium, according to the government guidelines.

The fate of the National Football League, which is just two years old, will be decided within the next few weeks.