Lyngby to lose professional status

Lyngby FC will no longer be a professional club in Denmark after members voted in favour of bankruptcy rather than a merger with first division side FC Farum.

No more money
The club have been struggling to stay financially solvent ever since owner Jørn Terkelsen announced that he had no more money to invest in the side.

Drop divisions
A general meeting was held on Wednesday to decide Lyngby's future, with the 124 votes for bankruptcy exceeding by 20 the number cast for the merger. The result means the club will automatically drop two divisions at the end of the season.

Contracts terminated
Lyngby's entire first team will make their final appearance for the club at home to Brøndby IF on Sunday before their contracts are terminated and they are released. The club's squad for the remainder of the campaign will be comprised of amateurs.

'Deeply disappointed'
A distressed Terkelsen said: "I'm deeply disappointed by the board of amateurs. It's a case of hearts ahead of common sense." Coach Poul Hansen was also upset by the decision, saying: "I don't get it. There was nothing to lose by voting yes to Farum and I did. Someone sitting in there has lost 50 jobs."

'Free to go'
Mads Oeland, director of the Danish Players' Union, said on Wednesday: "If Lyngby FC are declared bankrupt, there will be a meeting in court on Monday, where a curator will be announced. That person will take a day or two to announce that the club is not fulfilling its contracts, which means the players won't get paid. After that the players are free to go, but that will be Tuesday or Wednesday of next week at the earliest."

Championship success
Lyngby, Danish champions as recently as 1992, attempted a merger with another first division side, AC Ballerup, last month but the deal collapsed.