Leen Prins (68 years old) has been a Telstar fan from the very beginning. After having fulfilled various administrative positions around the club, he has now joined the new Supervisory Board. He holds this position together with Lex de Jager.
Prins, born in IJmuide, is certainly no stranger to Telstar. He has been a fan of De Witte Leeuwen since its founding (July 1963) and was also chairman of the supporters’ association for a while. Prins also served on the board of the foundation surrounding Telstar’s stadium development.
It may therefore seem striking to outsiders to appoint a fan to the Supervisory Board, but Prins refutes that. “I have a lot of experience at Telstar and was also a member of the commercial committee for the construction of the West Stand. I am involved in the club as a supporter, but also as director of a school group with a large business club, I have the necessary knowledge gained.”
Text continues below the X-post.
Until last summer, Prins was part of the board of the Pro Telstar Foundation, which includes the club’s nine shareholders. This foundation was established in 2008 to help the club continue.
“The foundation recently indicated that Telstar must introduce a new management model, in the form of a ‘one tier board’. With such a structure, directors and supervisors form one body. The lines become shorter and the board becomes more decisive.”
The Supervisory Board, director Annokkée and the shareholders currently operate jointly. The general manager will soon be supervised by four supervisors: two shareholders and two independent members. “Lex and I must clearly record the tasks and responsibilities in a matrix. Shareholders should not take over the role of the general manager.” For example, things went wrong at FC Volendam.
New board next summer
Telstar’s new board should be operational next summer. “That could be possible, but the shareholders decide,” says Prins about his possible role in that new board. “There is a good chance, because Lex and I are working on it. The most important thing is that people can communicate well with each other.”
The two-member Supervisory Board is very busy for the time being, including monthly consultations with Annokkée. “There are nine fixed agenda items, such as finances, players and the stadium. Lex and I also work on the ‘one tier board’ and we consult with the KNVB about our license.”