Het Nieuwsblad are reporting that an English based club could be set to take over KV Oostende, with negotiations reaching a final phase. The paper has not named the English side involved, however they describe them as being a multi-club group with two smaller sized clubs. This would appear to be Bill Foley, owner of AFC Bournemouth and FC Lorient. There had been stories over the summer that the club were looking into acquiring a Belgian side to add to their portfolio.
Oostende are in need of new financial backing. They are available relatively cheap, with the main caveat being that any new owner needs to take on the clubs debt. Furthermore, negotiations also need to take place with Anderlecht’s Marc Coucke, who still owns the main stand in the Diaz Arena. KV Oostende now pays around €800k euros in rent per year to the former chairman for another two decades.
Given that Oostende were relegated last season and have been financially mismanaged during the past few seasons, such a fee is simply too much for them to pay. Fans are hopeful that a deal will be done soon, and that the new owners will turnaround the clubs fortunes.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
