Conway refuses to scatter dollars

[EastStandRed]

Americans are not yet scattering dollars at FC Den Bosch, but reinforcements are coming in January
The American rulers are currently behaving exactly as CEO Paul Conway had predicted at FC Den Bosch. Patiently and without panic.

Forget it. In stadium De Vliert, not much has changed since FC Den Bosch came into American hands last summer. Okay, the player group has changed quite a bit and there are four new people on the supervisory board, three of which are from across the Atlantic.

But sensational transfers or spectacular purchases? No, the American shareholder PMG (Pacific Media Group) and its partners do not do that.

It is a world of difference with the previous and ultimately failed acquisition of FC Den Bosch. Kakhi Jordania, the then investor from Georgia, flew in acquisitions from all over the world three years ago. As the leader of the first division, FC Den Bosch went into the winter break at the time, in which even more reinforcements were attracted.

But that backfired. The club finally finished fourth in the 2018/2019 season after a relapse, and grabbed next to the coveted promotion in the play-offs. And then there was also a red light from the license committee of the KNVB for the takeover by Jordania.

But where the Georgian businessman initially let his oil rubles roll enthusiastically, the current American shareholders are now mainly keeping their dollars in the clip.

PMG CEO Paul Conway said it at the beginning of the season when he was a guest in De Vliert stadium. “We have to be patient. We can now sprinkle money here, but that is not how we operate. All too often you see clubs that are promoted and relegated immediately afterwards. They are not ready for the highest level. We want to build here, let the budget grow and put together a team that can play a role in the premier league after promotion. And then it doesn't matter if it takes a year or two longer before we get our PhD," Conway said at the end of August.

His words from then have come true through the policy that FC Den Bosch now pursues. The player budget is 'only' nine thousand euros and from the other European clubs, in which PMG is a shareholder, only two players have been hired: Preben Stiers and Mohamed Berte from KV Oostende.

Progress
Nevertheless, there is progress in De Vliert. Most importantly, with the arrival of the new shareholders, the financial problems of the past have finally come to an end and the club's future is guaranteed.

But things are also getting better on the field. A year ago, FC Den Bosch entered the winter break as number nine**** of the Kitchen Champion Division, now the club is in tenth place halfway through the season.

Director Rob Almering: ,,We now have 25 points. If we win on Monday at Jong AZ, there will be 28. If we get as many points after the winter break, we will come out at 56. Then we participate for the play-offs places."

And that's what FC Den Bosch wants too. As Thorsten Theys, chief operating officer at KV Oostende, already said in this newspaper in August: ,, FC Den Bosch should not be promoted immediately, but we are going to give it a shot. Something is definitely going to happen in the January transfer window.”

The same Theys now sits on the supervisory board of FC Den Bosch, with American shareholders Chien Lee, Michael Kalt and Paul Conway. And with the 'old' trio Huub van Mackelenbergh (chairman), Alexander Haas and Rob Kleijzen.

Transfer period
In the coming transfer period, there is therefore a lot to expect at FC Den Bosch, although the player budget will not suddenly be increased drastically. The club is initially looking for four reinforcements: a right winger, two midfielders and a left defender. "Preferably with experience," says technical manager Jan Gösgens.

It looks at the other clubs in which PMG is a shareholder and at clubs where the Americans do not play a role. But getting players from outside is never the most important goal in De Vliert. “Providing space for our youth. Train your own players for the first team. And then sell a player once every two years, like Ringo Meerveld last summer. That's what we want," said Almering.

[SBRed48]

All sounds depressingly familiar.

Another set of fans Conway is seeking to pillak.

As with Johnson fooak will eventually come to realise they are being taken for fools.