This is a google translation of the GrAS facebook page
Yesterday · Public Who are we and what do we want? We are a group of supporters who believe STVV should be run as a competitive professional sports club, not a social club, a shopping center or a convenient but insignificant part of a company. Since the NV Stayen exists thanks to the original purchase of the stadium grounds for the football club STVV and to this day the brand STVV benefits from it, it is only fair and reasonable that the football club also benefits from this relationship. We therefore ask that NV Stayen: • writes off all existing debt of STVV, formal and non virtual via a so-called. Risk contract • waives all existing claims to the TV rights • waive all remaining rights to players • negotiates about a more favorable lease with the club We also request that Duchâtelet undertakes: • To make the football really competitive on the field • to express a healthy ambition for the club to pursue sporting successes • If Duchâtelet can not undertake here, we ask that he is actively looking for a suitable buyer for the club, which will give us the opportunity to grow and be successful.
Background In 2004 when Duchâtelet became the new owner of STVV with the promise to create a strong and stable first division STVV, the club's debt was but 700,000 euros. At the time Staaien was still owned by the city of Sint-Truiden. Duchâtelet, thanks to his local political connections, managed to negotiate in 2008 the purchase of the stadium and surrounding land at a price below the real market value. A new limited company, NV Stayen, was founded. The football was used as a convenient excuse to invest in all kinds of commercial areas. Duchâtelet spent as a sloppy 35 million euro for new stands, hotels, apartment buildings, underground parking, offices, facilities, meeting rooms and build a fitness center for the NV Stayen. In 2011 Duchâtelet bought Standard, and one of his business partners at that time, Benoît Morenne took charge of the responsibility of STVV. At that time the debt STVV to Duchâtelet had risen to as high as 7 million. This debt was largely built by his own failing sporting policy. The story that appeared in the press was that Duchâtelet by way of gesture forgave the debts of STVV, but in reality only postponed its payment. The debt would be repaid by 15% to Duchâtelet STVV's TV rights and commercial rights (ie transfer) to cede a number STVV players. Of course, these players were all sold quickly. Moreover led to the abnormally high number of transfers and lending cycles between STVV and Standard, the fact that Bart Lammens took over in 2012 as chairman at the request of Roland Duchâtelet, and the deals between NV STVV on one hand and NV Stayen (Marieke Höfte) on the other to speculation and research on the lasting influence of Roland Duchâtelet, at that time chairman of Standard, the daily operation of STVV. All commercial income from the new stadium flowed to NV Stayen and very little or nothing to the football club, despite Staaien being home to the club since 1927. The only option for STVV was entering into a commercial lease agreement with NV Stayen. In June 2015 Duchâtelet sold Standard to Bruno Venanzi and then he came back late in May 2016 at the helm stand STVV. He took over from Bart Lammens, he was still four years had himself asked to be chairman. Then he placed his partner, Marieke Höfte, at the head of the football club and around the same time, plans were announced for a new South Stand, with 1,500 seats and more offices and commercial spaces. In a recent interview Duchâtelet had understood that STVV had no ambition club but a social club that Stayen primarily a place to shop, eat, drink, dance and have fun.
In summary Behind a smokescreen of "investment in the football stadium" Duchâtelet made good use of his political connections and STVV fans to create a robust company. It's obvious that he cares little or nothing to sporting success and that its focus is mainly on the growth of its assets. Despite the fact that he owns the club and stadium, STVV will not receive preferential treatment. The club is just a source of income for the NV Stayen. For STVV this relationship has no chance in the further development of the club and the pursuit of sporting success, on the contrary. Or by analogy with an earlier judgment of Duchâtelet: STVV is a club that plays happen to Stayen.
Then it repeats the opening section.
This makes for shocking reading. It is what will happen to Charlton unless our protest on 4th March is effective. Do you want to be looking back in 13 years time, thinking "Did I do enough to try to stop this happening?"
Please make the effort to travel to Sint Truiden to protest. We need as many as possible to really rattle Roland's cage. We know he doesn't like us visiting his home town and he certainly doesn't like being ridiculed publicly there.
Local media have already picked up on the planned protest and the involvement of GRAS will only increase the media attention. This could be the one thing that tips the balance and makes him sell if it is big enough, and you could be a part of it. The organisers have put so much of their time, effort and money into planning it. These are people with full time jobs and families, just like you lot. It is there on a plate for you (literally in the case of the buffet!). It is subsidised if you need it to be. All we need now are as many Charlton supporters out there as possible to let Duchatelet know how much we detest what he is doing to our club.
Yes, I know many of you have tickets for Northampton, and you haven't visited their ground before. FFS! Go watch us there next season (well, unless we are relegated). We will draw 1-1 or lose anyway and the football will be sh*t!
The club is being destroyed by this man. Please come over to Belgium and help try to stop him.
Just one more example of the shoddy way that Duchatelet and his associates operate.
Bart Lammens is a financier and politician, - a member of Open VLD (Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats), the political party of Roland Duchâtelet.
In January 2012 Bart Lammens was installed at STVV, to take care of business for the Duchâtelet family. "Roland Duchâtelet has asked me to help with the search for fresh capital," announced Lammens, who according to himself was just a transitional figure.
Soon after taking charge Lammens met with a group of unhappy fans at The Clock Café on the Grote Markt. The discussions seemed to be constructive and amicable, so the imminent fan protests, - calling for fan representation in the administration of NV STVV, were postponed.
Four years later, with none of the promises given by Lammens having been fulfilled, disillusioned members of the Supportersverbond KSTVV, were moved to compose the following open letter directed towards the club President: Dear Bart Lammens, The events of the past few weeks represent the straw that broke the camel’s back. Apparently you found it expedient to dispense with our head coach and three of our best players at a time when Play-Off 1 is still achievable and when a good performance in Play-Off 2 should be the absolute minimum.
The club has also demonstrated little ambition in the cup and with key players rested, elimination has arrived almost by default. Meanwhile, we remain nothing more than an outright relegation candidate.
The recent transfers of Fererra, Junio Edmilsonr, Dompé and Schoofs have brought much money into the club, yet the winter transfer window has passed without significant investment in the team. Nevertheless, during this time we’ve seen our rivals retaining their best players, and even strengthening their squads.
In addition, you and Roland Duchâtelet continue to deny any conflict of interest between STVV and Standard Liege, despite what the circumstances would suggest. Yet again, in recent months, we see another coach and two of our players moved towards Liège, with Standard fringe players Dussaut and De Sart moving in the opposite direction. Dear Bart Lammens, the big problem is that you only see STVV from your point of view as an entrepreneur. You have no love for the sport, much less love for our club. Fortunately for you and your entourage you can enjoy the modern VIP facilities of Stayen, yet the sports budget is one of the lowest in the first division. In contradiction to most other clubs who, with a new stadium, would likely increase its operating budget.
We must also establish that the situation already was negatively assessed by the license commission, and this represents additional debt for previously limited sporting investment. Moreover, there are no assurances that despite the said high transfer fees for outgoing transfers there will be financial wealth next year. You always told us the club makes no investment in infrastructure, only a low rent for the stadium. The fear is that we must remain financially dependent on a Messiah. Now STVV is only a transit club for mercenaries and young talents in which financial gain has to be created. To the detriment of sporting goals owed to the fans.
We understand the commercial aspect is important in modern football, but passion, ambition and a desire to achieve the highest possible sporting goals are most important in any competitive sport.
Wow to that letter. Nobody can say it is written by a bitter ex-Charlton employee at the very least! It mirrors our experience with uncanny synergy. As Muttley says, very apt.
He lies so naturally, even he may not realise he is doing it any more. Feeble excuse of a man. A pathetic coward who everybody hates - is that how he wants to be remembered.
He lies so naturally, even he may not realise he is doing it any more. Feeble excuse of a man. A pathetic coward who everybody hates - is that how he wants to be remembered.
Too late now Muttley..........that's how he 'will' be remembered, like it or not.
Comments
Bart Lammens is a financier and politician, - a member of Open VLD (Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats), the political party of Roland Duchâtelet.
In January 2012 Bart Lammens was installed at STVV, to take care of business for the Duchâtelet family. "Roland Duchâtelet has asked me to help with the search for fresh capital," announced Lammens, who according to himself was just a transitional figure.
Soon after taking charge Lammens met with a group of unhappy fans at The Clock Café on the Grote Markt. The discussions seemed to be constructive and amicable, so the imminent fan protests, - calling for fan representation in the administration of NV STVV, were postponed.
Four years later, with none of the promises given by Lammens having been fulfilled, disillusioned members of the Supportersverbond KSTVV, were moved to compose the following open letter directed towards the club President:
Dear Bart Lammens,
The events of the past few weeks represent the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Apparently you found it expedient to dispense with our head coach and three of our best players at a time when Play-Off 1 is still achievable and when a good performance in Play-Off 2 should be the absolute minimum.
The club has also demonstrated little ambition in the cup and with key players rested, elimination has arrived almost by default. Meanwhile, we remain nothing more than an outright relegation candidate.
The recent transfers of Fererra, Junio Edmilsonr, Dompé and Schoofs have brought much money into the club, yet the winter transfer window has passed without significant investment in the team. Nevertheless, during this time we’ve seen our rivals retaining their best players, and even strengthening their squads.
In addition, you and Roland Duchâtelet continue to deny any conflict of interest between STVV and Standard Liege, despite what the circumstances would suggest. Yet again, in recent months, we see another coach and two of our players moved towards Liège, with Standard fringe players Dussaut and De Sart moving in the opposite direction.
Dear Bart Lammens, the big problem is that you only see STVV from your point of view as an entrepreneur. You have no love for the sport, much less love for our club. Fortunately for you and your entourage you can enjoy the modern VIP facilities of Stayen, yet the sports budget is one of the lowest in the first division. In contradiction to most other clubs who, with a new stadium, would likely increase its operating budget.
We must also establish that the situation already was negatively assessed by the license commission, and this represents additional debt for previously limited sporting investment. Moreover, there are no assurances that despite the said high transfer fees for outgoing transfers there will be financial wealth next year.
You always told us the club makes no investment in infrastructure, only a low rent for the stadium. The fear is that we must remain financially dependent on a Messiah.
Now STVV is only a transit club for mercenaries and young talents in which financial gain has to be created. To the detriment of sporting goals owed to the fans.
We understand the commercial aspect is important in modern football, but passion, ambition and a desire to achieve the highest possible sporting goals are most important in any competitive sport.
Supportersverbond KSTVV
Nobody can say it is written by a bitter ex-Charlton employee at the very least!
It mirrors our experience with uncanny synergy.
As Muttley says, very apt.
For a man who has been so successful in business, I find it surprising that he clearly has very little wit or imagination.