On Monday afternoon, Poldervaart heard that De Graafschap is looking further in the search for a new trainer.
‘Hugely disappointed’
‘I am very disappointed’, responds the assistant coach of FC Groningen. ‘Let me start by saying that it is right that Groningen behaves in this way as an employer. I am employed and I understand that there would have to be a fee on the table. But I think there are more aspects that you should look at. Let’s not pretend I’m a defining player, or a high-scoring striker. We’re not talking about a head coach either, but about an assistant’, says Poldervaart.
In my eyes, De Graafschap wants to sit in the front row for a dime
At the end of May, the first call came from Peter Hofstede, the technical man of De Graafschap. After letting it sink in for the first time, Fledderus also reported interest to Poldervaart the following week. ‘We thought it was important to include him in the story’, says Fledderus. ‘We didn’t want to close the door right away, but we only wanted to think along if there was, in our view, appropriate compensation.’
‘30.000 euro’
Sources say that the club from Doetinchem wanted to pay thirty thousand euros for Poldervaart, with a bonus if De Graafschap were to be promoted. Initially, the offer was considerably lower. However, FC Groningen demanded one hundred thousand euros for the assistant with a contract for one year after this season.
Technical director Mark-Jan Fledderus does not want to comment on amounts, but sees De Graafschap’s offer as a tip. ‘In my view, De Graafschap wants to be in the front row for a dime. We don’t have to play Santa Claus’, the policymaker is convinced. ‘I think we were quite reasonable, but in the end we were very far apart. An assistant coach is an important position within your club. A successor also costs money and we have to put together a new technical staff. I understand that Adrie is a bit broken by this and that is of course allowed.’
Now Groningen is suddenly very hard and I am suddenly the best assistant ever
Poldervaart does not understand that FC Groningen is now adopting this attitude. ‘For the same money, the club ended up with an assistant who was free. And I really think, as I said before, that this would also reflect positively on Groningen. I have always indicated that I would like to become a head coach again. And we’re not talking about a comparable club like Groningen where I can become an assistant. De Graafschap is simply a wonderful club and that would have been a real party for me. It was a unique opportunity’, Poldervaart continues.
‘Now they need me’
‘So I’m really upset about it. Let’s just say I’m not a teenager anymore. I am a man of fifty years. I’ve had a great time for two years, I’ve done my best, I really gave everything for this club. And now Groningen is suddenly going very hard and suddenly I am the best assistant ever and they need me’, says Poldervaart disappointed.
Also read:
– Adrie Poldervaart in the picture as trainer of De Graafschap
.
