A conflict in the youth academy of Feyenoord is approaching its climax, so writes RTV Rijnmond Tuesday afternoon. Just like any professional club, Feyenoord must notify which employees have to leave before 1 April. If it is up to youth academy Stanley Brard, heads will roll at Varkenoord. The regional broadcaster writes about a bursting bomb at Feyenoord.
When it comes to Brard, Feyenoord says goodbye to former players Ulrich van Gobbel (assistant coach Feyenoord Under-18) and Remco Schol (video and performance analyst Feyenoord Academy), Melvin Boel (head coach Feyenoord Under-18) and Mark Onderwater (head performance Feyenoord Academy). According to RTV Rijnmond Brard finds the foursome ‘too difficult and too innovative’ and prefers to work with the trainers he already knows from his first period at Varkenoord, such as Cor Adriaanse and Gaston Taument.
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Last week, just before the match between PSV and Feyenoord (1-1), Brard wanted to email the names of the foursome to general manager Mark Koevermans. By mistake, however, he sent the email to another Mark, Mark Onderwater, one of the staff members he’d rather see leave. The main performance of the Feyenoord Academy ‘did not know what he was reading’, according to the broadcaster. After all, he never had an evaluation interview with Brard. He reported sick after receiving the email and has not been to Feyenoord since then.
Although Onderwater did not inform the other three persons mentioned in the email, Brard feared that the information would leak. He therefore chose to call Van Gobbel, Schol and Boel himself. However, the trio knew nothing about it and were ‘dumbfounded’ by Brard’s phone call. “The trainers are angry, also because they have never received a negative interim evaluation. That is why they assume that they will also be active within Feyenoord next season”, writes RTV Rijnmond.
It wasn’t Brard’s only email blunder. After all, he also thinks that video analyst Etienne Shew-Atjon should leave the field and used an earlier email exchange with Koevermans, Shew-Atjon and video analyst Michel Valke to inform Koevermans about this. However, because Brard clicked on ‘reply all’, Shew-Atjon also read via email that Brard wants to get rid of him. The head of youth academy admits to have made a huge mistake. “I find it very annoying and that cannot be justified. I apologized for that.”
The question now is whether Feyenoord opts for the old course that Brard feels better about, or for the innovation that is being preached by other people within the youth academy. The club had the English company Sportsology write a report about a new organizational structure in De Kuip, which was received on Monday, with a delay. “What is in the report, I do not say. But I do not look at young or old. It is important to me that someone is good”, responds Brard.
Reportedly Frank Arnesen had that report drawn up and the technical director is more in line with the new generation of trainers. On Thursday there will be consultations about the future of the names of youth trainers mentioned by Brard who should leave. “But how strong is he himself?” Asks RTV Rijnmond wondering. “A number of youth trainers have an ongoing contract and must therefore receive a lump sum payment. Can the financially damaged Feyenoord afford that, while the also criticized Brard has an expiring contract?” If Feyenoord chooses to terminate Brard’s contract before April 1, Koevermans or Arnesen must make that decision and the Supervisory Board must approve it.
Brard reacts soberly to the broadcaster about his possible departure. “A decision has to be made within two weeks, but I have not heard from the club. In my first period it has also been extended, so I notice it”, said the head of youth academy, who was already in between 2005 and 2013. the same position was active and returned in 2018. “Do they want to continue with me, it is okay. Do they want someone else, then too. I am having a great time here, but if the club wants something else, they will have to make it known. I heard that the supervisory board is there. also has to decide on it. “