Mechelen president calls it a day
Wednesday, November 6, 2002
Article summary
KV Mechelen president Willy van den Wijngaert has chosen to step down.
Article body
Temporary solution
The club will be run by Van den Wijngaert's son, Marc, and Johan Willemen, a business man and former vice-president of the Belgian club, until a more permanent solution has been found.
Lermyte return mooted
Mechelen's former commercial director Geert Lermyte is keen to return to the club with a new three-year business plan but he is not interested in working with the Van den Wijngaerts. "We have the people who want to pay for a new project but they only want to work with us," Lermyte said. "All the Van den Wijngaert people have to leave."
No wages
Van den Wijngaert's departure adds to the turmoil surrounding Mechelen as they struggle to keep financially afloat. Sports director Aad de Mos has been fired and the players have not received any wages since the summer despite the fact that Van den Wijngaert has contributed €12.5m from his own funds to the club.
