Vitesse earn late reprieve
Thursday, July 3, 2003
Article summary
SBV Vitesse have received their licence to play in the Dutch top flight next season.
Article body
Last-minute reprieve
The financially troubled Arnhem side were left waiting until the last minute yesterday evening before receiving a fax confirming their licence from the KNVB. The club were able to confirm that a €2m shortfall in next season's budget would be filled with a financial guarantee for that amount from an anonymous businessman.
Financial guarantee
The City of Arnhem, meanwhile, sent out an emergency fax to the KNVB, in which they confirmed that their own financial guarantee to the club - to the tune of €10m - was without any further conditions.
'Took a long time'
"It took a long time and although we even doubted ourselves sometimes, we had faith in us being able to meet the KNVB conditions for a licence," Vitesse general manager Jan Snellenburg said. "I just cannot imagine Dutch football without Vitesse."
