THE Ceres-Negros Football Club (FC) franchise is bound to be sold and the most decorated team in the country will be parading a different color when the Philippine Football League (PFL) returns amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Busmen management are in deep negotiations with the new investors but withheld revealing the new owners until the deal is sealed.
“Ceres-Negros Football Club is currently in talks with investors who will be taking over the management and ownership of the club in preparation of the fourth season of the PFL as well as the resumption of the campaign in the AFC [Asian Football Confederation] Cup,” the team management said in a statement.
“As soon as the takeover is completed, the club will no longer be known as Ceres-Negros since our current chairman, Leo Rey Yanson, will not be involved in any way in the affairs of the club,” the statement added.
PFF Secretary-General Atty. Edwin Gastanes said the club has informed the federation of the ongoing negotiation.
The Busmen has three titles in the PFL alongside the Copa Paulino Alcantara trophy last year.
Ceres made three AFC Champions League appearances, reaching the semifinals of the AFC Cup last year but got quashed by Hanoi FC.
The quarantine has severely affected Ceres, one of the major bus companies in the country that plies almost the entire archipelago.
“Through Ceres-Negros FC, Mr. Yanson was able to share his love for the game to his countrymen. While the pandemic has struck hard on businesses all over the world, Ceres has made its best efforts to compensate its players and staff,” the statement read.
Ceres star James Younghusband announced his retirement, while fellow aces Josh Grommen and Jeffrey Christiaens left the Busmen.