Football
PA Sport 8y

'Next few days are critical' for FC Twente after withdrawing financial submission

Crisis club FC Twente have been forced to withdraw their submission for the 2014-15 financial year after new details of the deal to sell Dusan Tadic to Southampton came to light, meaning they could be a step closer to losing their professional licence.

Director Onno Jacobs, who was appointed by the crisis-hit Erdivisie club in January after Twente were fined €42,250 and banned for misleading the Dutch federation's licensing commission over an investment deal, believes the next few days are crucial in securing the future of the club.

A investigation of transfer deals has found details of a secondary agreement with Tadic's agent which has resulted in Twente informing the KNVB (Dutch FA) that the financial returns were inaccurate and would not be supported by the club's auditor.

Jacbos said in a statement on the club's website: "There has surfaced a second agreement with the agent of Tadic and the resulting costs, in particular the fiscal consequences, have a major impact on the annual figures 14-15.

"Therefore, we must withdraw the previously filed financial statements and submit a new restated financial statement. We realise that we as a club have thus failed to comply with the timely submission of accurate annual figures."

Jacobs fears this latest setback could lead to further financial penalties and a points deduction or even the ultimate sanction of the club losing their professional licence.

He added: "FC Twente would again reap the bitter fruits of the policy in the past. We have to accept this, but it is a raw deal for everyone in and around Twente.

"Especially for players and staff, that week-in-week-out with massive support from the supporters fight for every point. Everyone yearns for a normal situation at FC Twente. The next few days are critical."

Jacobs has called on former FC Twente directors who are creditors to help out the stricken club.

"To get out of category one, and thus not to lose the professional license, it is necessary that the former directors among the creditors assume their financial responsibility.

"The original arrangement of December 2015 has been totally inadequate to expect to cover all damages already suffered. It may indeed be clear that the playing field and the financial situation has changed dramatically since December.

"A new financial agreement with such former directors is a prerequisite to meet the requirements of the KNVB license commission and the municipality of Enschede. The situation is very acute. We need the next few days to reach an agreement in order to ensure the survival of FC Twente."

Twente currently lie 11th in the Eredivisie table.

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