Restructure from the top
Eagle Group took over the academy, which was not fully included in the sale, 100% in January. Previously, it always partially belonged to Thierry Dailly. In December, Thomas Caers resigned as director. The club decided to give itself time to think about its succession and met more than ten candidates while managing day-to-day affairs. This position will be divided into two: Jacques Colson and Nicolas Baquet will respectively be technical director of youth training and general coordinator of the academy. “They will carry out two projects”explains Maxime Vossen who knows that there is a lot “questions from parents”. “The first concerns the elite academy. It’s a talent pool for us and Eagle group. The goal is to build as many bridges as possible towards the first team. The second project concerns the social project. We want to keep this impregnation in the program that we wish to put in place. But we do not want to divide these two poles.”
We recognize and accept mistakes.
These new appointments constitute a step forward in obtaining the license. Colson and Baquet will also have the task of appointing pre-training, training and post-training managers. Or to think about the reintroduction of an Iris league (which therefore does not concern the elite sector). “This will be a big topic of conversationexplains Maxime Vossen. Today, we realize that it was a mistake to create a school without a championship, without competition. Being involved in a game on the weekend is important. You can't just have friends. We recognize and accept mistakes. It will take change.”
The RWDM keeps its fate in its hands: “I don’t expect anything from anyone”
Trainers and synergy with Eagle
The diplomas of trainers and coaches in the youth teams were also the subject of questions. The COO of RWDM assures that today, in all eleven-a-side football, everyone has the UEFA A or UEFA B certificate.Below, there are indeed some who have the C patent. We are launching a program. We also want to invest in talent at home. We would offer to trainers and coaches to help them in their journey, to take charge of their UEFA B and UEFA certificate. A. We will tell them: 'We may not pay the best salaries but we can support you in your training.' They could, for example, also go to Lyon.”
No risk that we won't have an U21 or U23 team next year.
Because the synergy between the different Eagle clubs is central. “We must have this added value. In Brussels, we not only represent RWDM but also Lyon and Crystal Palace. Few clubs can boast of this. As for young people, it is perfectly realistic to imagine that they go to Lyon to see something else. It is obviously an advantage to be part of a group which has a club already voted best trainer in France on several occasions. It would be stupid to miss this opportunity.”
A discussion regarding the coordination of the U21 and U23 teams will be carried out. “We are dependent on what happens in the first team too. Staying in D1A or not changes a lot of things. We have made sacrifices for the first team, but we do not forget the academy. We want to change this policy of cronyism that may have existed. It's a priority. And no, there is no risk that we won't have a U21 or U23 team next year.”
