After presentations to the Supervisory Board, NOAD Foundation and various sections of supporters, the City Football Group’s (CFG) plans have now also been made public for everyone. It does not provide much clarity and in Lommel the plans are more than familiar.
“In this document they have simply replaced Lommel SK with NAC Breda. That’s what they said here too,” says Ronny Geysen, chairman of the Heuvelhof supporters’ club in Lommel, after hearing CFG’s plans. Lommel was taken over by the City Football Group two years ago, but not much has improved at the Belgian club since then.
“It is an advertising brochure containing only good news. There are many good intentions and with every new trainer they grab something from that advertising brochure.”
The chairman already gave a sketch last week of what the NAC supporters can expect with the City Football Group (CFG) as owner. But in practice not everything works. “They say there will be a top youth education. But they are now making a plan to make the youth academy smaller. This would allow the top talents to come into their own better. We will see in two years whether that actually works out well.”
The CFG . document social media cannot count on positive reactions either. Sven Claes, a club watcher from Lommel SK, agrees with Geysen’s words. Another supporter calls it “a parody of a serious plan.”
The City Football Group’s plans follow a leaked letter from major shareholder Wim van Aalst. He is convinced of CFG’s plans because it is only about football, while other parties also want to invest in the stadium.
But if you look into the plans of CFG, you will also see ideas about the stadium, such as tackling the branch.
The City Football Group’s intentions are good by involving the supporters in their takeover plan. But a three-page document seems like a very succinct enumeration of the whole idea behind it.
It is not clear what it will deliver to City. In addition, there is also no mention of possible exclusion from European football for NAC. UEFA does not allow two clubs with the same owner to participate in a European tournament. Of course, this is far from the case with the Breda football club, but this would make maintaining the Eredivisie the most feasible for the club.
For many supporters, the plans are anything but reassuring. Certainly with the example of Lommel in mind. It should become clear in the coming period whether City Football Group will actually take over the club. It seems more and more that the NOAD Foundation, the golden share, does not agree with the plans. In that case, the foundation will come up with an alternative.
All in all, the presentation of the plans by the CFG will not be the last achievement in the takeover process of the club. Let alone the last word on this.
Also read:
Here’s what NAC fans may face if CFG takes over the club
City Group charm offensive with NAC fans fails: ‘We are not convinced’
NAC wants to sell shares to City Football Group, fans are disappointed