Money does not make you happy? The board of Anderlecht undoubtedly thinks differently. Many unpopular policy choices are based on the (still) difficult financial situation. What does a look at the Purple & White accounts teach us?
Of course the board of Anderlecht would like to unpack with a handful of top transfers.
Of course they would have preferred a trainer with more name and fame.
And of course they realize that Jean Kindermans belongs at Neerpede.
Why the above things are a distant reality? Simple: because the Belgian record champion has had to save for years due to legacies from the past.
In recent seasons, the annual accounts have turned blood red with successive losses of more than 6, 27, 36 and 29 million euros.
Does Anderlecht see its efforts being rewarded in the most recent figures?
False success
Well, at the end of December, the National Bank published the figures for the 2021-2022 season.
And for the first time in five years, a green figure could be read at the bottom: 1.2 million euros profit.
Hallelujah? Not for those who delve deeper into the balance sheets.
The apparent success is mainly due to the fact that main shareholder Marc Coucke canceled 51 million euros in debt.
In addition, there was an (exceptional) capital injection of 42 million euros, of which the tandem Wouter Vandenhaute – Geert Duyck took on more than half.
Without those efforts, the Purple & White actually incurred an operational loss – from day-to-day operations, that is – of 27.5 million euros.
Anderlecht may still have the highest wage bill in Belgium, but the performance is far from equal.
Especially the high salaries continue to haunt Anderlecht. They increased even further from 50 to 57 million euros.
“I was shocked by that,” said sports economist Thomas Peeters. “Perhaps the club still has the highest wage bill in Belgium, but the performance is far from corresponding.”
They will complain to Anderlecht until the end of time about the heavy contract of Adrien Trebel (2.7 million euros per year). But Wesley Hoedt and Hendrik Van Crombrugge are also top earners who fell short of expectations.
In their annual report, the Purple & White attributes the increase in wages to “more expensive wage contracts and the reformed social security for professional football players”.
On the other hand, earnings did not rise enough to pay for wage growth.
“That is why it makes sense what is happening now,” says Peeters. “Part of the salaries goes to the structure around the club and then Neerpede may be an expensive story.”
So it shouldn’t be surprising that a big earner like Jean Kindermans comes into view, despite his enormous record of merit.
Adrien Trebel is Anderlecht’s biggest earner.
Difference with Antwerp
According to Peeters, Anderlecht’s financial situation is still not very rosy.
“Because the capital increases have so far filled an existing pit”, the sports economist analyses. “Everything is used to make up for the losses of the past.”
A big difference with the use of the millions that, for example, Paul Gheysens pumps in Antwerp.
“The cash injections at the Bosuil went to a renovated stadium and a stronger sporting structure,” Peeters saw.
“These are investments that pay off, because Antwerp is clearly on the rise. But Anderlecht? New resources did not cause growth there.”
Anderlecht will now absolutely have to bring in top transfers with few resources.
And that urgently needs to change, because the pockets and patience of investors is not infinite either.
“Anderlecht will now absolutely have to bring in top transfers with few resources”, Anderlecht expert Yves Taildeman emphasized again in Laat yesterday evening. “It has to be there boenk up. The club can no longer afford to miss a transfer.”
Or the numbers will turn blood red again next year.
