While it is still unknown how the situation at SK Deinze will evolve in the days and weeks to come, two players have announced their departure via social networks. A local entrepreneur is trying to find investors.
Lennart Mertens, serial scorer for SK Deinze (101 goals in 219 matches), was the first to leave the sinking ship and sign for Beveren, released from his contract. Two other players from the Flandrian club have now announced their departure via social networks.
One of them is a well-known figure in the Jupiler Pro League and within Walloon football: it is Gaëtan Hendrickx (29 years old), former Sporting Charleroi midfielder. Hendrickx was the captain of SK Deinze and has one goal and two assists in 8 Challenger Pro League matches. He will have played 105 matches for the Flandrian club.
Hendrickx also addresses the way the Pro League handled the matter: “Very grateful for everything this club and this city have given me on and off the field. The most beautiful page of my career so far,” he writes.
“I never thought I would have to part ways in this way but unfortunately, as long as Belgian professional clubs are not obliged to have to prove at the start of the season that they are financially capable of taking on the season in its entirety, This kind of situation is likely to happen again and again.”
The second player to say goodbye is Jellert Van Landschoot (27 years old), former youngster of FC Bruges, who played 83 matches (16 goals) under the colors of Deinze.
A local investor tries to take over Deinze
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, The Latest News reports that Patrick Piensa local businessman, is trying to bring together investors in order to take over SK Deinze and get the club out of the rut. In particular, he would have to find enough to pay the million euros requested to repay short-term debts by next week.
The current owner, Doudou Cissé, took over Deinze from ACA Partners for a symbolic euro… but has not yet injected money into the club, paying no salary owed or any debt. An agreement will have to be found for Cissé to transfer his shares to Piens and his possible partners, in order to avoid bankruptcy which is getting closer by the day.
