Less than 24 hours after the shocking news that John de Jong is leaving PSV, Marcel Brands was available for a response. The general manager indicated that the supervisory board no longer had confidence in the technical director. But if it had been up to Brands, De Jong would have stayed.
“There are only losers in this situation,” said Marcel Brands shortly after the technical director’s departure. The general manager was clearly taken aback and had difficulty explaining the news.
Something he himself admitted. Still, he made an attempt. “The supervisory board came to me after the transfer window. They no longer had faith in John de Jong. I communicated that to him. After his holiday, De Jong indicated that it was impossible for him to continue.”
“I probably would have done the same”
Brands has made every effort to retain the technical director. “He didn’t have to leave me. And if the Supervisory Board no longer has confidence, that is not immediately a reason for a departure. Although I do understand John. I probably would have done the same.”
But why did the supervisory directors no longer trust John de Jong? “It had nothing to do with the last transfer window. They were not satisfied over a long period of time. That concerns, for example, transfers and the sporting situation.”
“This does not deserve the beauty prize”
He continues his story: “It has nothing to do with a possible transfer from Cody Gakpo. An offer of 30 million with 13 million in bonuses has come in. But those bonuses were unrealistic. As the entire management, we have refused this. “All the goals this transfer window have been achieved. The pain wasn’t there either.”
The general manager admitted that he had not been informed of this when he was appointed. Even though it was playing at the time. In the coming period, Brands and the remaining members of the management board will again enter into discussions with the supervisory directors. “Because this doesn’t deserve the beauty prize.”
“John de Jong’s departure is difficult to explain”
Whoever hears the story will frown. And Brands also knows that it is a crazy state of affairs. “John de Jong’s departure is difficult to explain.”
PSV will now have to look for a successor. Frank Arnesen was initially mentioned as a possible successor, but Brands says he is not in the picture. The general manager himself, who used to be successful as a technical director, will not hold this position again.