On the day that Mike Willems was fired from FC Emmen, the club also announced that Ronald Lubbers will definitely not return as chairman of the board. Lubbers already resigned from his duties in March due to health reasons. At the beginning of this week, the chairman informed his fellow directors that he would not be returning.
Lubbers saved FC Emmen from destruction after financial problems and under his leadership the club was promoted to the premier league for the first time in history. He became an icon of the club.
In a press statement, Lubbers says after eleven years he wants more time and space to focus on other matters. He wants to devote more time and attention to his entrepreneurship and hopes to find the time to take up a number of new initiatives.
According to Lubbers, the board has functioned well in the past period. “New directors have been appointed to important positions and I am confident that they will take our club one step further. I have come to the conclusion that combining the managerial role at FC Emmen with other tasks does not work for me. That forces you to make a choice.”
Lubbers’ tasks have been transferred to general manager Rinse Bleeker and board member Herman Harms.