Feyenoord president steps down
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Article summary
Feyenoord president Jorien van den Herik has stood down after 14 years at the head of the Dutch side, who will now restructure in a bid to attract new investment.
Article body
Considerable success
The 63-year-old has announced his farewell after a special committee recommended that the club's current board of supervisory directors should make way for a new structure. Van den Herik has held the position since 1992 and helped the Rotterdam team avoid bankruptcy after a sponsor went out of business. His reign also included considerable on-pitch success, with victories in the 2001/02 UEFA Cup, the Eredivisie in 1993 and 1999, and the Dutch Cup in 1992, 1994 and 1995.
Financial problems
Van den Herik has come in for criticism in recent months, however, as Feyenoord struggle financially despite the summer sales of Salomon Kalou and Dirk Kuyt. Protests from supporters led to the foundation of a special committee under former player and chairman Gerard Kerkum, who has advised that a more transparent organisation structure is required at Feyenoord to attract sponsors and investors, with one of the conditions being Van den Herik's resignation. For continuity's sake, the current board will stay on until new members can be appointed.
Tax fraud case
Van den Herik is also involved in a tax fraud case relating to transfers in the mid-1990s. The chairman and Feyenoord have been cleared twice in court, but the Dutch justice department has appealed against the decision a third time, and the case will be heard again on 19 December. "As long as this case ran, I did not want to run away from my responsibilities," said Van den Herik. "But now a safe harbour is in sight, it is time for other captains to steer the ship. I will remain a loyal supporter of the club that has determined my life for many years."
