Sad end to Lommel's season

Debt-stricken KFC Lommelse SK have announced that they will not fulfil their remaining five fixtures in the Belgian first division.

Filed for bankruptcy
The club filed for bankruptcy last month and has since been put in the hands of an administrator, Herman Driessen. However, a group led by former chairman Dirk van den Boer had been working to ensure Lommel could complete the season and then start over again next year in the third division.

'Decision is final'
A dispute between Van den Boer and Driessen means his efforts have proved futile. "I had a plan to survive for the remaining five matches, but suddenly the trustee told me that was not possible, and he only wanted to make plans on a match-by-match basis," said Van den Boer. "My decision now is final: Lommel will not play again this season. I am a broken man now."
 
Future uncertain
It is not known yet how this decision will affect Van den Boer's plans to start afresh in the third division next season. He has established a new company that could take Lommel's playing licence, while the debts would remain with the old company. Whether or not the Belgian Football Association (URBSFA) allows Lommel to retain their licence, however, remains to be seen.

Effect on league standings
The URBSFA must also decide now what should happen with Lommel's league results to date. Association chairman Jan Peeters said: "We officially still do not know about their decision, but we are getting used to that in the Lommel case. The decision about the effect on the league will have to be made by the Executive Committee of the FA. There are two possibilities: either all Lommel's results will be deleted, or Lommel will lose their final five matches with the by a 5-0 scoreline."

First option
In the case of Lommel's results for the season being deleted, league leaders Club Brugge KV will be confirmed as champions if they win at K. Lierse SK this Friday. Second-placed Anderlecht will retain their four-point lead over Sporting Lokeren St-Niklaas Waasland but Lokeren will have played one match less. R. Charleroi SC, meanwhile, will climb out of the relegation zone and into 16th place.

Change of note
Brugge and Charleroi will be in the same position as above in the event of Lommel being handed automatic 5-0 defeats for their remaining matches. The only change of note would be Anderlecht gaining a seven-point lead over Lokeren.