Mechelen to keep playing
Friday, December 13, 2002
Article summary
Indebted KV Mechelen will be able to fulfil their two remaining Belgian first division fixtures of 2002.
Article body
Huge debts
The financially-troubled club were placed into liquidation this week with debts of over €2.5m, and intend to give up their Belgian Football Association (URBSFA) Pro licence at the end of this season and drop to the third division in order to save having to pay a number of their liabilities, including taxes, player wages, social security and URBSFA fee.
Liquidator finds funds
However, with debts of €1.5m to former club president Willy Van den Wijngaert and €1m to DEXIA bank still outstanding, there were doubts about whether Mechelen could continue to play matches this season. But club liquidator Johan Dubaere has found €25,000 in order to pay and insure 15 players for the games against R. Antwerp FC on Saturday and at R. Excelsior Mouscron on 21 December.
New coach
Mechelen, who lie seventh in the first division having lost just four of their 15 matches this season, will be coached by former Belgian international Alex Czerniatynski after Stéphane Demol's decision to resign. Czerniatynski was Demol's assistant.
