May 13 – Belgium is turning into a miserable market for US club investors.
While 777 Partners-owned Standard Liege had their team bus blocked by fans preventing them from getting to their match, RWD Molenbeek, owned by John Textor, have been relegated from the Belgian top flight following a 2-0 defeat at the hands of KAS Eupen in the relegation play offs.
Last summer, Textor’s club returned to the elite division for the first time in 21 years, but Molenbeek’s adventure was short-lived as on Saturday a second-half goal from Isaac Nuhu and an own-goal from Christ Makosso sealed the team’s fate. Eupen had already been condemned to the drop.
“We had a 5-point lead on 3rd place, but after that we got 0 out of 9,” said manager Yannick Ferrera.
“We lost here against a team that has already been relegated. Those are the facts. We deserve to be where we are. We seemed healed, but we weren’t healed enough to save us. The problems were deeper than we thought.”
“The smallest grain has created sand in the machine, as we saw against Kortrijk. The mental aspect was the problem from the start. As a coach, you can still offer courage and conviction, but that only lasts three matches. At the first setback, all the negativity resurfaced.”
Molenbeek had finished the regular season at the bottom of the table with 21 points, but Ferrera’s arrival prompted a mini-revival with two victories and a draw.
His future at the club is also in doubt. He was brought to rescue the club and his contract extension depended on keeping the club up.
KV Kortrijk and Lommel City will face off for the last ticket to remain in the top flight.
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