Manchester City’s Belgian project in turmoil as Lommel continue dangerous slide towards relegation | OneFootball

Just a few seasons ago, Manchester City brought Lommel SK into the City Group family. The small club had been struggling financially and the investment from the group certainly helped turn the club around. After almost winning promotion last season via the play-offs, the side started this season under former Arsenal man Steve Bould with the stated aim of getting into the Pro League. Fast forward a few months, the side have lost eight on the bounce are and just five points above the drop zone in the Challenger Pro League.

Ultimately, despite their terrible run of form, the plight of Deinze may well save the club. With the side having gone bankrupt midway through the season, only one side can now be relegated from Belgium’s second tier. Genk’s youth side have been poor and currently occupy the final relegation spot. Lommel have a game in hand over the youngster, but given their current form, there is little faith in them being able to get anything from it. The two sides face each other on April the 5th. Before then, Lommel face clubs at the top and a few in and around them, with the upcoming match against Seraing looking to be pivotal.

At the weekend the side lost 5-0 to Anderlecht’s youth team. That was the Mauves youngsters fifth win of the season from their 20 games. Following the defeat, HBVL writer and expert on Lommel Sven Claes did not pull his punches. The reporterd said the following:

‘The acclaimed top sports mentality of City Football Group has become a loser’s mentality in the Soeverein Stadium. Losers SK. Rich in the bank account, poverty on the pitch. Unrest in the dressing room, unrest in the technical staff, unrest in the management and unrest among the supporters. Trouble at all levels.’

The idea of foreign ownership or being part of a wider footballing portfolio may well be used as a reason for the sides poor form. One could say that the high turnover of players, and the players potential lack of affiliation to the club, may play a big part in why the side have been so poor. However, Belgian football is known for having similar situations. RWDM, in the same league, are part of John Textor’s portfolio of clubs and they have managed one promotion under him and may well return to the top flight this season. that is not to say that Textor is particularly popular amongst RWDM fans. In the top flight, Cercle Brugge and Monaco’s strong relationship is a main reason why their fortunes have turned around in recent seasons.

What is confusing about the Lommel situation is that the club have spent money. Jason van Duiven joined from SV for around €3m, John Edwin Montano for €2.8m and Faniel Tewelde for €2.5m. All these are far more than most second tier clubs can pay. Yet in fairness to Lommel is they have at least sold players on for reasonable fee’s as well, but maybe this is part of the wider problem. The turnover in players is high, and even Bould hinted earlier in the season that his hands were tied when it came to team selection. Some players were unable to play because they were being moved within the wider City Group portfolio.

It is unlikely that Lommel will be relegated, but if they were it would be a major issue for the project. The second tier in Belgium is already a difficult one to navigate financially, especially for teams without the riches of the City Group. The amateur tiers are far harder, and in some cases teams that win promotion to the second tier turn it down because of the costs being so great. It would also beg the question of what caliber of players Lommel would receive down there. Would the City Group flood them with talent to guarantee a return to the second tier? Or would they send a handful of players given that the level of football is of a much lower standard and may not benefit the players as much?

Whatever happens to end the season, serious questions will need to be asked at the club over the summer as to what direction they want to go in, and if promotion is still the aim, how can they get there.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson