Football Season Guide

Vitesse endured a truly terrible last season in which they looked like the worst team in the league form early on and just never really found any sort of momentum or ability to then things around, with relegation looking portent much inevitable from midway of the campaign. But the problems on the pitch paled in comparison with what happened off the pitch as the mere existence of the club was eventually in great jeopardy. Massive financial issues that have been building up over the years, along with gross mismanagement, and ultimately the club was just unable to stay afloat or provide a plan how they will start recovering. They seemed to have found a new owner willing to get his hands dirty and pull the Arnhem side back from the mire but lots of administrative issues and legal wrangling meant that the decision whether Vitesse can get their professional licence approved for this season, and thus be able to compete in the second division, was protracted beyond any reasonable time. Eventually, KNVB did grant the Arnhem side a license with a week left before the start of the season and they can now finally focus on the football on the pitch. Naturally, coach John van den Brom, back to the club where he made his name all those years ago, has been left with pretty much a threadbare squad of academy player as almost every senior member of the squad from last season has been released and are searching for new clubs. Vitesse will now have to try to construct a competitive squad in the final month of the transfer window but this is naturally a challenge. Therefore, any talk of a potential quick return to the Eredivisie should be put to rest for now as it is all about consolidation and finding some joy again in the coming season, regardless of where the Yellow and Blacks finish.