Paul van der Kraan will become the new crisis manager at Vitesse 'under conditions', it writes the Gelderlander. Van der Kraan recently left FC Twente as general manager and will help the Arnhem team in an advisory role.

Vitesse was looking for a new crisis manager due to the departure of general manager Peter Rovers. The latter leaves the penultimate number of the Eredivisie on April 1. Van der Kraan soon came into the picture and was nominated by Commissioner Peter van Bussel.

Van der Kraan has a proven track record. He helped various clubs out of crises and he also worked at Vitesse. Between 2004 and 2012 he helped the Arnhem team from collapse.

After the departure of Karel Aalbers in 2000, Vitesse's debts rose to great heights. Thanks to a large-scale rescue operation by Van der Kraan, the club was able to continue to exist. In 2012 he left after a conflict with then owner Merab Zjordania.

After his employment at Vitesse, Van der Kraan started working as an external advisor at Fortuna Sittard and as general manager at FC Den Bosch. In the 2018/19 season he decided to switch to FC Twente.

Due to his extensive experience, Van der Kraan is seen as someone who can close ranks again at Vitesse in the short term. The seventy-year-old Brabander must tackle the crisis in Arnhem together with a management team yet to be set up.

The most important job for Van der Kraan seems to be saving the professional license. The Arnhem team recently saw the takeover for the American Coley Parrey rejected by the KNVB licensing committee.

In addition, an investigation into past Russian influences is ongoing. If it is proven that Roman Abramovich has had direct involvement within the club in the past, this could lead to major problems.

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