With virtually the smallest budget in the Eredivisie, RKC achieved tenth place in the competition and secured another year at the highest level. Something that is very clever and has not been an incident for a long time. In conversation with general manager Frank van Mosselveld we discuss how the performance of the Waalwijk club comes about.
At RKC you will not just hear that the performance of this season must be structural. That sounds very strange when you talk about top athletes. But whoever hears Van Mosselveld talk, hears a logical story.
“We don’t talk about ranking positions. You can only be charged for that. After our tenth place I can say that we have to perform this every year, but that is based on nothing. We believe in our mission and vision: educating and developing players. And from that follow the sporting achievements.”
“If everyone followed normal policy, we would normally not play in the Eredivisie.”
Of course the general manager wants to stay in the Eredivisie every year, but they don’t blow too high of the tower. According to the former pro, people sometimes forget how special the current performances are. “If everyone followed a normal policy, we wouldn’t normally play in the Eredivisie. It remains special that RKC plays football in the Eredivisie. We sometimes forget that.” RKC is a smaller club than many a club at a lower level.
In addition to having a clear mission and vision, van Mosselveld mentions another strength of the club. It is never restless. “If it’s quiet at the top, it works down,” says the director. “We have a good structure with a Supervisory Board that only supervises and is not involved in anything else. And managing expectations is also important: being honest and transparent with your supporters.”
“We want to have the stadium structurally full.”
This season, too, everyone remained calm when it seemed to be getting tense. After the home game against SC Heerenveen (0-0), the approaching relegation line seemed to be of no concern to anyone. “There is not a single team that RKC simply has to beat. If we only focus on results, it is right or wrong.”
RKC performed very well in sport, but Van Mosselveld also wants to take steps outside the field. “We want to have the stadium structurally full.” According to the director, this should work, although he does make one caveat.
“Almost 50,000 people live in Waalwijk. With 5,000 spectators we already attract ten percent of all those inhabitants. A percentage that not every club achieves. But we still want to go for that full stadium (7,508 supporters). There is also quite a bit of potential in the Langstraat region. Especially now that next season there will only be football in Eindhoven and Waalwijk Eredivisie.”
“I will not just leave this club.”
Where players put themselves in the spotlight at a well-run club, this could also apply to the general manager. But the RKC supporters do not have to worry about Van Mosselveld’s departure. “Of course I have ambition, but we are working on beautiful things. I have not finished learning and the club is still developing. I will not just leave this club.”