FC Emmen has to look for a new technical manager. Mike Willems was fired on Friday after six months of employment. His predecessor, Michel Jansen, also lasted less than a year at the Drenthe club.
Mike Willems was present at FC Emmen’s training camp in Delden on Friday when he suddenly ran into general manager Rinse Bleeker. “I already suspected that. This decision was not made overnight,” says Willems. ,,Something has happened, there have been discussions with this person and that one. Rinse called me for an interview and told me that there is too much difference of opinion and that I was put on hold. Then you have to be a big guy and accept that. Moreover; there is also that difference of opinion.”
‘I can write a book about it’
Willems does not want to say exactly where Willems and the board of FC Emmen differ in opinion. “We agreed on that. Maybe someday I’ll tell my story again. I could write a book about what I’ve been through the last few months. But now I have agreed with Rinse not to say anything. I said: let’s not be diametrically opposed and respect the agreements in my contract.”
Willems regrets that his employment with FC Emmen has come to an end. “I think we did well in some areas. The guys we brought in are fit. The cooperation with the performance side also went well.”
Second rapid departure of technical manager
After Michel Jansen, who also did not complete a year at FC Emmen, Willems is the second technical manager who quickly closes the door of De Oude Meerdijk behind him. That is remarkable to say the least. ,,You can draw your own conclusions from that,” says Willems. “Maybe we were both huge idlers. But I don’t think that’s the case.”
Immediately after the conversation with Bleeker, Willems called his daughters and girlfriend to tell them the news. “Every disadvantage has its advantage and they immediately saw the advantage. Now I’m home more often.” Willems also spoke with FC Emmen coach Fred Grim. “He was bummed like a plug. The cooperation with Fred went very well. He chose FC Emmen, but based on conversations with me. Maybe FC Emmen has already appointed a new technical manager tomorrow, but then his ideas and vision must match those of the trainer.”
Clarity about new interpretation next week
Director Bleeker did not want to say much about Willems’ departure. “It’s not fun, it’s not nice. I don’t think so either, but in the end we thought this was the best choice. It couldn’t go on like this. There is a difference of opinion about the technical policy to be pursued. That decision was made by the club. In the course of next week we will announce how we will fill it in now. That depends on several things. In any case, it gives us a lot of work to do.”