Former Liverpool Man Under Pressure: One Point from 24 and Supporters in the Dressing Room

Former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt is under huge pressure in Belgium, as fans stormed the dressing room after yet another defeat.

Now at Beerschot, Kuyt’s turbulent season hit a new low after a 0-3 defeat against Sint-Truiden, marking their seventh consecutive loss. The club, currently languishing at the bottom of the table, faces their bitter rivals Antwerp in the derby on Sunday. As questions swirl around the club’s Saudi ownership, coach Dirk Kuyt’s future, and the team’s lacklustre performances, frustrations have boiled over, with fans even entering the dressing room after the latest defeat.

Football journalist Koen Frans, who has closely followed Beerschot for Gazet van Antwerpen, points the finger at the Saudi-owned United World Group, the club’s main shareholder. “They don’t understand the problems of the club at all,” Frans said, blaming poor decisions made during the summer transfer window. Key figures, including CEO Frédéric Van den Steen and technical director Gyorgy Csepregi, left for OH Leuven, leaving Beerschot without experienced leadership. “The new people in charge have not shown they are at the same level,” Frans added, highlighting the structural weakness that has plagued the club since its return to the top flight.

For Beerschot, the issue goes beyond the players on the pitch. Despite making 13 incoming transfers, none have made a significant impact, according to Frans. “This team, and the club itself, are simply not ready for the first division,” he remarked, echoing the concerns of many fans. The situation worsened when star player Thibaud Verlinden, the only player showing promise, suffered a muscle tear that will keep him out for four to six weeks.

Former Sporza commentator Frank Raes also pointed to the club’s owner, Saudi Prince Abdullah, whose involvement has been minimal. “The Prince has to choose: either sell the club or take a genuine interest in it. Right now, it feels like Beerschot is just a toy to him,” Raes stated. While the Prince continues to meet financial obligations, there has been little effort to truly elevate the club. Raes believes the Prince’s lack of engagement is a major factor behind Beerschot’s current struggles.

Vice-chairman Walter Damen, however, downplayed the panic, urging patience. “The Prince has invested nearly €25 million into the club. He doesn’t see this as a toy. He’s asking for calm,” Damen explained, acknowledging the fans’ frustrations but dismissing the idea of “panic football.” Despite this call for calm, Beerschot’s supporters were left dejected after the defeat to STVV, with many calling for change ahead of the Antwerp derby.

Despite the dire situation, Dirk Kuyt remains in charge, for now. Normally, a run of one point from 24 games would see a manager sacked, but Kuyt appears safe for now. “The board has shown immense confidence in Kuyt, even offering him a contract with a salary three times higher. Financially, sacking him would be a heavy blow, and they simply don’t have the money for that,” said Frans.

However, if results don’t improve soon, even Kuyt’s job security may come into question.

Site Opinion – Grim Reality

Beerschot’s season is quickly spiralling out of control. The team’s performances on the pitch, coupled with management’s lack of decisive action, paint a bleak picture. Dirk Kuyt’s position may be safe for now, but if the club continues to flounder, there will come a point where even he cannot escape the consequences of failure.

The root of Beerschot’s problems seems to lie at the top, with disengaged ownership and a lack of strategic direction. Unless drastic changes are made—either in ownership structure or squad quality—the club looks set for a swift return to the second division.