The All India Football Federation will meet representatives of the ten clubs that will compete in the country's premier football competition on Thursday to finalise the schedule and venues for the competition that kicks off early next year.

The agenda for the meeting includes a draw of lots for the schedule, finalising dates and venues for the 10th edition of the National Football League.

Earlier, the AIFF had rejected requests of teams that were relegated last season to expand the league. At its annual general meeting, the Federation decided to stick to its decision of restricting the NFL to 10 sides.

AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi is expected to attend the meeting along with secretary Alberto Colaco.

The representatives of last season's champions Dempo Sports Club, Sporting Clube de Goa [Images], East Bengal, Mahindra United, Fransa FC, Salgaoncar FC, JCT Mills, Phagwara, and Mohun Bagan would be present at the meeting.

Mohammedan Sporting, Kolkata and Air India, Mumbai, who were promoted from the NFL's second division, will also be represented.

The meeting will also be attended by envoys of the Indian Football Association (the parent body of the game in West Bengal), Western India Football Association (Maharashtra), Goa Football Association and Punjab Football Association.

The dates and availability of grounds is expected to be the major topic for discussion at the meet.

Goa provides four teams for the NFL but the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium in Fatorda, the biggest in the state, is unlikely to be available till March as the Goa Cricket Association would need the ground to prepare it for the India-England One-Day International, scheduled for April 3.

The AIFF needs to decide on alternate venues for its matches after talking with GFA and the clubs.

The turf at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata is scheduled to be relaid by the West Bengal government. The IFA had proposed to host the home matches of East Bengal, Mohun Bagan and Mohammedan Sporting at either Kanchenjunga Stadium, Siliguri or Barasat Stadium but nothing has been decided yet.

The Cooperage ground in Mumbai, which used to host the Rovers Cup, is also not in the great condition either.

JCT Mills, Phagwara will play its home matches at Karnal Stadium, Ludhiana.

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