Posted this a few weeks ago:
Sad day for me, as the Dutch FA today decided to withdraw the professional license of Fortuna Sittard. This means we're not allowed to compete in next years first division in Holland. We can't appeal over this decision with the Dutch FA, but can take it as far as the European Court if necessary. Can't help but think we were used as an example to other clubs by the our FA.
After more than a decade of mismanagement, things started to finally look brighter. We survived the merger talks with arch rivals Roda and were virtually debt free, after a group of passionate busisnessmen/supportets did everything in their power to rebuild this once great club.
Normally in January, every Dutch club has to prove to the FA they have a decent plan of approach for the next 3 years and also how they plan to clear eventual debts. As in January we were in the middle of merger talks, the FA decided to grant us a delay until the first of may.
So after the merger talks, the new board worked overtime to have everything in order on time. In May the FA were that impressed they gave us a further two weeks to get everything in order. After those 2 weeks they said they would be in contact soon.
Now 2 weeks later, they announce that our pro license will be withdrawn. The reason they are using though, is that we didn't have a plan of approach back in January. Yes, we knew that all along and it was bloody obvious as we were in merger talks at the time. Unbelievable those bastards in charge of our FA. Why grant us a delay and build our hopes up, to later deal out such a hammer blow.
So we're now about to take legal action against the FA. If that's not succesfull, we either start next season in the 1st class of the amateur league (2nd highest division outside the pro leagues) or we will be dismantled.