Great unrest at FC Volendam: quarrel and financial problems

1 Why is there a governance crisis?

Three board members have resigned. The club confirms that they have recently resigned from two: Simon Hansen and Tom Veerman. Treasurer Tom Koning is the third who is said to be giving up. There is disagreement about the policy to be followed. The quarrel came to an end when Keje Molenaar was nominated as vice-chairman and the Supervisory Board opposed it. Reason: Molenaar is too closely connected with trainer Wim Jonk and his people, so that he cannot properly control what they do.

Today VI reports that the Supervisory Board wants the current construction of contracts with Team Jonk to come to an end. The board’s assignment is to terminate those contracts as of April 1, which does not automatically mean that Jonk, technical director Jasper van Leeuwen and director of training and collaborations Ruben Jongkind, among others, will also be saying goodbye.

2 Is ‘Team Jonk’ not doing its job properly then?

You can look at that in two ways. Since their entrance in 2019, the club has undergone a metamorphosis. That happened in all areas. From the youth academy to the newly built weight room and from the kitchen to the office. A large number of people (paid and volunteers) left and others took their place. With the aim of promoting to the premier league within three years. That goal was achieved last season.

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At the highest level, FC Volendam tries to maintain itself with a considerably inflated budget of 9.5 million euros. For the time being Volendam manages to keep FC Emmen, Cambuur and FC Groningen under control. The fact that due to professionalisation, expenses grow faster than income is apparent from the annual statements that were colored red in the last two seasons: 621,462 euros (21/22) and 758,011 euros (20/21). According to the books, the club’s equity has shrunk to no more than 11,867 euros.

3 But isn’t the KNVB keeping an eye on things?

Beats. If you look at the Financial Rating System (FRS), you will see that Volendam dangles almost at the bottom. Allen Feyenoord, De Graafschap, FC Dordrecht and Fortuna Sittard perform worse. With a total of 15 points, Volendam is below the dotted line. Those who score 15 points or less must submit a plan of action and undergo a mandatory club development scan. This is tested by the KNVB. Clubs that repeatedly did not have their financial affairs in order in the past were deducted points for this. In extreme cases, the professional license is at risk.

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4 What does the club say about the current situation?

Now nothing. A spokesperson refers to a meeting on Thursday 9 March in De Jozef. There, from 19:00, text and explanations will be given to anyone interested.

5 Does all the turmoil affect performance on the field?

It is too easy to blame the hopeless 3-0 defeat at FC Twente on thunder at the top of the club. Nevertheless, trainer Wim Jonk previously reacted extremely annoyed at the attitude of the Supervisory Board.

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Chairman Jan Smit takes this a step further in VI: “If you, as a member of the Supervisory Board, do not understand what we are doing, that we are developing millions of euros in player value, then you simply have not understood it.”

The Supervisory Board could not be reached for comment.