Beveren spared as Molenbeek sink

The appeals committee of the Belgian Football Association (URBSFA) has ruled that RWD Molenbeek must play in the third division next season which means that KSK Beveren will stay in the top flight despite finishing bottom of the table.

Club will appeal
Last week Molenbeek announced their intention to withdraw from the first division because of financial difficulties and requested to drop down just a single tier. However, they will appeal against the decision to drop them two divisions complaining about the composition of the URBSFA appeals committee.

Helleputte's delight
New Beveren coach Herman Helleputte is delighted they are staying as a top-flight side. He was hired to replace Thierry Pister and at the time the former coach of KFC Germinal Ekeren, K. Lierse SK and KRC Harelbeke was uncertain where his team would be playing.

'Good choice'
“I signed because I  preferred to work with problems in the second division than to have no work at all,” said Helleputte. “I trust Beveren anyhow.” Beveren's French general manager Jean-Marc Guillou said: ”We had to have someone before July because I would be absent from the club and Helleputte is a very good choice.” 
 
Close co-operation
Helleputte added: “What is positive is that with Guillou’s involvment [he owns a club in the Ivory Coast] we will sure get some players from the Ivory Coast and we also have co-operation with Arsenal [FC] who want to allow young players to develop in Beveren, the same as Manchester United [FC] did two years ago with Luke Chadwick.”