Vitesse exit continues: Players leave transfer free, interim director jumps ship

Vitesse has agreed to terminate players’ contracts if they can transfer to another professional football club. According to the players’ union VVCS, this was the outcome of a meeting at Papendal. The union had threatened to take the matter to the KNVB’s arbitration committee, but that is now off the table.

It was confirmed last week that the Arnhem club lost its professional license, and will not be playing professional football this season as a result. Since then, eight or nine players reported to the VVCS stating that they wished to move to another club.

According to union director Louis Everard, players can report to the club, which will cooperate with a free transfer. The players will continue to be paid as long as their contracts have not yet been terminated.

This process would also apply to players wishing to leave the club at a later stage. “I trust Vitesse to stick to this agreement,” Everard said on a telephone from the training ground at Papendal.

The VVCS held a “constructive and intensive” meeting of about an hour with a “broad delegation” from Vitesse. Representing the club were outgoing interim director Jaap Noltes, shareholder Michel Schaay, and club icons Edward Sturing and Theo Janssen.

“They are holding on to the perspective they see. Everything is aimed at continuing with the club. We have limited ourselves to the position of contracted players who are already able to sign with another club. We have reached an agreement on that,” Everard said.

It was reported on Wednesday that Noltes is departing from the club. Noltes worked hard on trying to save the club’s professional license since February, when he was appointed along with the German Timo Braasch to replace the interim-director Edwin Reijntjes. Braasch had quit his position a few weeks ago.

Vitesse now has to find a new director, one who will lead the Arnhem club, likely in amateur football. The level at which Vitesse will compete will probably be announced later this week.

The club was not available for comment.