Lierse Owner Sounds Alarm Over Belgian Football’s Financial Model After Deinze Collapse

Belgian professional football has suffered another setback with the bankruptcy of Deinze, a club that had been labelled overly ambitious.

Luc Van Thillo, owner and chairman of Lierse, is not shocked by the development, calling it a symptom of deeper flaws in the nation’s football pyramid.

Speaking to Laat, Van Thillo reflected on parallels between Deinze’s collapse and his own club’s brush with disaster six years ago.

“We actually experienced the same thing back then as Deinze does now. We also had a foreign owner who pumped a lot of money into the club. As a result, Lierse lived a bit above its means.”

However, when the financial backing was withdrawn, both clubs were left exposed.

“They too lived beyond their means and got into trouble when the owner no longer wanted to put money into it.”

Controlled Spending: A Solution?

Van Thillo, who revived Lierse after its own financial difficulties, highlighted the need for fiscal discipline, particularly in player wages.

“We don’t spend that much on player wages. That’s where we, as clubs, all go wrong. We pay too much to the players.”

Deinze reportedly spent over €6 million annually on wages.

“We do it with €2 million, which I actually think is a lot, but it’s still manageable. In the corporate world, we don’t do these crazy things, but as soon as we get into football, we start overspending.”

Looking to the Netherlands for Inspiration

Van Thillo criticised the Belgian system, particularly the instability caused by relegation from professional football to amateur levels. He pointed to the Dutch model, where professional leagues are closed, ensuring financial stability for clubs.

“In the Netherlands, if you want to move up to professional football, you have to prove that you are ready for it.”

“Here, two clubs are relegated every year, leaving them with no TV money, few sponsors, and lingering debts from their time in the professional leagues.”

He proposed reforms, including a closed competition structure.

“You could even create a national amateur champion, with the Flemish winner playing against the French-speaking team in the King Baudouin Stadium. Imagine broadcasting that match on TV—it would be wonderful.”

Fraudulent Foreign Investors a Growing Concern

Lierse remains one of the few Belgian professional clubs not yet owned by foreign investors, but Van Thillo warned of the risks posed by fraudulent operators.

“I get calls from foreign investors every week. In the beginning, I always said ‘no,’ but now I talk to everyone.”

He recalled approaches from the same investors who backed Deinze.

“When I hear them talk, it has nothing to do with the club. They have no interest in the infrastructure, staff, or youth development. They see clubs purely as opportunities to store players.”

Van Thillo concluded with a stark warning:

“If we don’t change anything, Deinze will certainly not be the last Belgian professional club to go bankrupt.”

Site Opinion

Belgium’s football pyramid is at a crossroads, with Deinze’s bankruptcy serving as a wake-up call for systemic reform. Clubs operating without financial safeguards, coupled with a relegation system that punishes underperformers with financial ruin, create a precarious environment for professional football. Van Thillo’s call for fiscal discipline is a crucial starting point, but broader structural changes are essential.

Adopting elements of the Dutch model, such as a closed league system, could offer the stability Belgian football desperately needs. Furthermore, stricter regulations on foreign ownership would help protect clubs from investors seeking short-term gain at the expense of long-term sustainability. Without decisive action, the collapse of Deinze may just be the beginning of a troubling trend in Belgian football.