Standard lose saviour Preud'homme

After leading R. Standard de Liège to their first Belgian title in a quarter of a century, coach Michel Preud'homme has announced he will leave the post, most probably to take the helm at KAA Gent.

No long-term deal
Preud'homme steps down from a position he has held since 2006, when he moved from the role of technical director to succeed Johan Boskamp. This season he led Standard to their first Eerste Klasse championship since the 1982/83 campaign when he was the Liege outfit's goalkeeper. "Standard wanted me to continue next season and have another tilt at the title as well as leading the club in the UEFA Champions League, but there was no long-term project in place," said Preud'homme alluding to the fact the club were only willing to offer him a new one-year contract.

'Tough decision'
"But it was still a tough decision," added the 49-year-old, who is considered a saviour by many supporters. "Standard are an exceptional club with exceptional fans." Standard will enter the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round next term. Preud'homme is expected to replace Trond Sollied at sixth-placed finishers Gent, who missed out on European football in 2008/09 after surrendering the lead in the Belgian Cup final to victors RSC Anderlecht.

Next step
The former Belgium goalkeeper said: "In principle I will go to Gent. The negotiations are almost complete. I do not expect any problems in completing the deal." Preud'homme, who was named Belgian Coach of the Year and previously held the reins at KV Mechelen and SL Benfica, believes he will be at Gent for some time to come. "Gent remind me of Standard when I came in eight years ago – they want to have a long-term plan. This is not a backwards step because, just like Standard, Gent begin each season with European ambitions."