At the beginning of October, KMSK Deinze was suddenly on the brink of bankruptcy when the Singaporean investment company ACA Football Partners unexpectedly withdrew its support. Tuur Dierckx, player at the East Flemish club, feared the worst.
“I think that’s the end of the story, based on how it was communicated to us.” The withdrawal of the main investor caused dark clouds to hang over the club, which found itself in dire straits with mounting debts of approximately two million euros. “I have been involved in professional football for a while and thought I had seen it all. Not so,” said Dierckx in GvA.
The future of Deinze seemed bleak until a European investment company from Luxembourg stepped forward as a new acquirer and threw out a lifebuoy. Deinze reported that the takeover is at an advanced stage and only needs to be approved by the corporate court and the Belgian Football Association.
Dierckx explained that the new investors only shared their plans to a limited extent: “They have not revealed details, such as their name or what exactly they are doing. As long as the deal is not legally finalized, they will remain cautious in their communications.”
The past few weeks have been tough for Deinze’s players, who, in addition to financial uncertainty, also had to deal with deferred payments and the departure of facilities such as the club lunch and cars for players. “We have not been paid in the last month either,” said Dierckx, who hopes that the new investors will pay the arrears.
For Dierckx, today’s match, a cup match against his old club Antwerp, has a special meaning. “This was my dream draw. I would like to return to De Bosuil, because the fans are so appreciative of what we have achieved in the past.” His role in Antwerp’s promotion in 2017, with six goals and as many assists in the second half of the season, has earned him a lasting bond with the supporters.
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