In Lierse TV last week there was an interview with our CEO Jesse De Preter. Here is a summary of what he had to say.
Jesse De Preter has been CEO at Lierse now for six months. A man who doesn't hold back his words and says what he feels. The financial limits, the situation in Egypt, haven't made life easier for Lierse. But according to Jesse there is no reason to panic. Neither on the sporting front, or structurally.
“When I came here, I immediately stated that we would not pay out money on transfers. Although I didn't know then where we stood financially. I had hoped that we would be able to generate sponsorship income quicker. But our league position doesn't work in our favour. On the other hand our relations with the Wadi Degla are very good. We've made an evaluation together of both the sporting and financial trajectory of Lierse. From our last season in second division until now. We all agree that although Lierse must remain a family club, it needs to become a more modern company. The Board and Management are now for example totally separated. We have also explained to our Egyptian friends where we stand financially and where we hope to be in 18 months time. That was not an easy exercise, but at least everybody now knows what our longterm plans are, and how long the tunnel is that we must go through.
We are of course, when we speak as us as a company, lumbered with the abstract idiom of football. Sometimes we invite a potential sponsor. If results don't then go well on the field, it creates a strange atmosphere for the sponsor. Whilst the product hasn't really changed. It's still the same team, the supporters, the atmosphere of the place … That's possible to manage. But there are many uncontrolable factors. But that unexpected element is what is also so nice about football. If that wasn't the case, I wouldn't be here.
I'm currently in the process of discussions with individual players. I always try to remain honest in my communication with the players. In some conversations that's a painful exercise, because I tell them things that maybe they don't want to hear. But up to now I've not had a single negative reaction from any player. They value the clarity over their future with the club. We don't play games with them and I notice that they find that very important.
In the coming Wintert transfer period we will reduce the size of our squad. It's alraedy been agreed with a number of players that they will leave the club. Additionally there is concrete interest for a number of players. It won't surprise anyone to know that there is interest for players like Kawashima, Claasen, Maric and Elgabas. But also for players who don't play as regularly like Cavens, Kovacs or Andreasson. If a good offer comes in for one of these players, then we we will work with it. Should one of our regular starters leave, then will immediately look for a worthy replacement. But we will absolutely not just sell off our best players. It is out of the question that we will weaken our team with the subsequent likely impact on the sporting front.
We had last Monday our Licence control. Like every year there are a number of things to be sorted out. But if I look bck at where we stood in Novemeber and where we now stand, I'm very optimistic. We aren't there yet. But we have a week to sort some things out, and normally that should be fine.
I've stated from the outset that we want to play more Belgian players. I haven't changed my stance. We have confirmed that we can't attract Belgian players who are already well known. We can't afford those transfer sums. But we have put in place in recent months a scouting apparatus looking at teams in second and third division, where there are a number of promising youngsters. Youngsters who are willing to do everything to play at the top level. Lierse would be an ideal platform for them. There are currently four names on our shortlist, who we will be contacting shortly. These are lads who in terms of character and personality would perfectly fit into what the Lierse support value. We'll offer these lads a performance related contract. If they are in agreement they would be very welcome here. We are not going to overstretch ourselves to secure the services of a player.
A trainer must never fear about losing his job. He must be able to carry out his job in such a way that he doesn't have to think about that. Otherwise he will do things purely with a view to keeping his job and that's not the aim. Chris Janssens will be judged on the basis of specific objectives. That's evaluated with him continuously.
I'm aware that there is unrest here and there. I understand that, because we lack success on the pitch which is what supporters crave. But we must not forget from how far back we've come. Lierse came very close to becoming extinct. Therefore I would ask the supporters to carry on supporting the team. The players value this support enormously. They tell me that themselves. If a few minutes atmosphere is created in the stadium and everybody gets behind the team, then that gives them the extra energy that they need to make the difference in the match. The more they carry on doing that, the more chance we have of getting closer to sporting success. The twelth man is needed more than ever."
