“ L“Standard is not on the verge of bankruptcy”, assured CEO Pierre Locht at the microphone of Eleven Sports after the canceled match against Westerlo following actions by supporters who prevented the players from reaching Sclessin on Friday evening.
“Contrary to what has been written, all the people who work at the club are paid on time. There is no delay in payments. The club’s financial situation is delicate but this has been the case for several months or even seasons. We are talking to our suppliers about layout plans and asking them to be flexible. But, as I speak to you, Standard is not on the verge of bankruptcy. »
Friday afternoon, the Ultras Inferno and the PHK, the two Ultras groups of Standard, had called for a blockade at the academy, from where the players’ bus was to leave for Sclessin. An action which led to the cancellation of the match against Westerlo because the players were never able to arrive at the stadium.
“We had a lot of contact with the supporters during the day and we tried to convince them to let the match be played. As expected, a group came to block the players’ exit. There was a form of dialogue and everything took place calmly and with respect. Unfortunately, the discussions did not make it possible to resolve the situation. I can understand the frustration, the irritation and the fed up of the supporters. They have had a more than complicated season and the news of the last few days has caused concern and added to this frustration. Personally, I don’t think it was the right action, especially since it’s the club that comes out weakened and not the shareholders, I find that a shame. »
Standard is currently going through an unprecedented financial crisis and supporters are demanding the departure of American owners 777 Partners who bought the club in April 2022. The American company is currently the subject of numerous legal proceedings in the United States.
“Unfortunately I cannot comment on matters concerning 777 Partners but I try to be as clear as possible regarding the club. The Standard is impacted by a situation which concerns 777 Partners which is its shareholder. This situation is unclear and cannot be clarified at the moment for a whole series of reasons that I myself do not fully understand. One thing is certain, Standard will still be in D1A next season and we will see if there will be a change in ownership. »
On Friday, The Financial Times reported that 777 Partners has called in a corporate restructuring company and that the American group is expected to end its football activities and sell Standard. “The heart of Standard is Liège,” added Locht. “We need to rediscover this Standard identity, whether through shareholders, the people who work for the club or the players. The most important thing is to preserve the club in this complicated situation and to replenish reliable people at all levels of the club. There is still uncertainty that needs to be clarified today and this is the first step of the new Standard. »
Beyond a financial crisis, the number 16 is also going through a sporting crisis with a narrow survival and no victory in seven playoff matches. “There is a form of sporting bankruptcy, we cannot deny it. We are all responsible, we can’t just point the finger at the bad Americans. We need to redefine a project as quickly as possible but we need clarity at the shareholder level and we are pushing to have it. We need to redefine a project to be competitive next season. This will require investments if we want to have a level of ambition worthy of this club. We must move forward, rectify the situation and hope to make this stadium vibrate again so that this club returns to its rightful rank. »
If he “regrets” the action organized this Friday, Pierre Locht wanted to emphasize the patience of his supporters. “They wanted to believe in the project. There was a quality dialogue for many months with them and today (Friday, editor’s note), it boiled over. We know that this can happen at Standard when problems accumulate. We work, we move forward and the Standard will continue to live. The managers, players and coaches pass but the club remains,” he concluded.
