Kolkata, Nov. 21 -- Reduce the minimum guaranteed payment, reconstitute the governing council, restructure the veto power of AIFF and remove restrictions on the commercial partner managing broadcasting rights. These were among the salient recommendations of retired Supreme Court judge L Nageswara Rao to the apex court after AIFF's search for a 15-year commercial partnership deal for its top league drew a blank. Appointed by the SC to oversee the bidding process, Rao's report, submitted on Nov 12 and made public on Wednesday, says it seeks to preserve AIFF's regulatory role while making "the commercial framework more viable". "ISL holds a position of central importance within the structure of Indian football. As the senior-most national league, it serves not only as a platform for professional competition but also as a driver of player development," the report says. HT has seen the report. "In this background, ensuring the continued stability and successful conduct of the ISL through a sustainable and transparent commercial model assumes importance." The recommendations were framed following feedback from the prospective bidders who, between them, had asked 234 questions on AIFF's Request For Proposal (RFP) issued on Oct 16. The minimum guaranteed payment of Rs.37.5 crore or 5% of gross revenue whichever was higher, as listed in the RFP, was "widely viewed as being on the higher side.limiting the commercial feasibility for potential bidders." It needs to be restructured or "reasonably reduced," the report said. The league's governing council, which has six members but only one from the commercial partner, needs to be reconstituted, "to provide the commercial partner with equal representation," the report said. Stating that AIFF's veto power in the governing council can be restrictive, the report suggests AIFF can have regulatory authority with the commercial partners having "operational and commercial control". The SC approved constitution adopted by AIFF last month says the top league will be operated by AIFF, leading to prospective bidders backing out. The commercial partner should also be allowed to independently manage broadcasting rights, the report recommends. This, the report says, would be in line with AIFF constitution if the relevant article is interpreted as being fulfilled when the general body approves the federation's agreement with a commercial partner....