They’ve been waiting for this for a long time. This Thursday evening, during a video interview lasting nearly two hours, Standard fans (represented by supporters’ club presidents) put all their questions to the president of Rouches. Christian Hanon (security manager), Olivier Smeets (communication manager) and Quentin Gilbert (Supporters Liaison Officer) were also present. Here is what was said, subject by subject.
Standard did everything to play the match against Beerschot
The Liège president assured that everything had been put in order so that the match could be played, even behind closed doors. But the police strike combined with the high-risk nature of the meeting prevented the match from taking place. The decision to postpone was taken by the mayor of Liège and by the governor of the province of Liège, which should more than likely allow the Rouches to avoid the forfeit (0-3), contrary to what the Beerschot wishes. The case will be brought before the Disciplinary Council on December 24 at 10:30 am.
The president remains calm in the footgate file
Bruno Venanzi is quite calm regarding the footgate, where his name is mentioned in some transfers (Mladenovic, Cimirot, Kosanovic). He denies the retrocommissions and does not imagine that the file could have negative consequences on the club. Standard has already lodged a complaint against Olivier Renard and Dejan Veljkovic.
An identification of the supporters mounted on the lawn facing Charleroi is underway
After the match against Charleroi, the Standard took the quick decision to close the first floor of T3 and T4, before adopting a more flexible position with the subscribers of these specific places (which have no connection with the events of the Walloon shock), allowing them to be repositioned elsewhere in the stadium. But this decision did not allow the club to obtain leniency from the Belgian Union, which is demanding three matches behind closed doors effective and one suspended. The hearing before the Disciplinary Committee will take place on December 21. The club and the police are doing everything possible to identify the supporters involved in the events of the Walloon shock in order to get the situation back to order as quickly as possible.
Venanzi wants to keep control of the club but does not rule out a total sale
Bruno Venanzi admitted that Standard’s financial situation was delicate following mistakes that were made, combined with the health crisis. That is why he is looking for investors. The president of Rouches has expressed his desire not to lead the club alone. It is open to the arrival of minority investors, to 50/50 management or to a complete takeover of the club. It does not therefore completely close the door to a sale or an increase in personal capital, as a last resort.
Currently, five candidates have expressed interest, three of which have already made an offer. The offer from the last two investors is expected before December 31, the end date of the due diligence period (acceptance by the buyer of the information made available by the seller). The majority of investors are interested in the club and the stadium, through the Real Estate that has been created.
After January 1, 2022, Bruno Venanzi will choose a partner with whom to conduct exclusive discussions. A final solution is expected for February 1, 2022. The arrival of an investor will go hand in hand with the establishment of a new organization chart.
If the arrival of investors has not yet been recorded, it is for several reasons: the footgate; the change in the tax status of footballers and the Edmilson affair, which President Rouche hopes to settle amicably, as quickly as possible, with Sint-Truiden. On the other hand, investing in the Academy is one of the priorities in the event of the arrival of an investor.
Luka Elsner wants creaming … and reinforcements
Luka Elsner, who calls for a skimming of the nucleus and investments in the scouting cell deemed too weak, will be entitled to a transfer envelope to strengthen the team in January.
Work on the stadium will begin in June
As the president told us in the interview he gave us a few weeks ago, work will begin in June. He specifies, however, that the construction of a roundabout at the level of grandstand 2 has been delayed and work cannot start before it is completed.
