Trouble brewing for Club Brugge

Veterans depart
RSC Anderlecht, who lagged behind in second place by a full eight points in 2002/03, will certainly lead a list of possible challengers. Coach Hugo Broos has seen veterans Filip De Wilde and Bertrand Crasson leave the club, while Gilles De Bilde is also looking for a new side.

Swedish duo
But in their place he has taken on former Belgian player of the year Pär Zetterberg from Olympiacos CFP, and another Swedish midfielder Christian Wilhelmsson from Stabæk IL. In striker Nenad Jestrovic, Broos also has one of the most dangerous frontmen in Belgium.

Goalscoring talent
Jestrovic scored 20 goals last term, despite only starting the season in November, and wants similar success this time around. "I want to become top scorer this season, but only if Anderlecht become champions," said the Serbo-Montenegrin forward.

Brugge reinforcements
While Club Brugge's main summer coup was keeping hold of their player of the year Timmy Simons, coach Sollied has also been busy in the transfer market. Croatian goalkeeper Tomislav Butina, Czech Under-21 international David Rozehnal and Serbian defender Ivan Gvozdenovic have all arrived to strengthen the club's rearguard.

Immense potential
However, the big hope in Bruges is that Romanian prodigy Alin Stoica might finally fulfil his immense potential. "This summer I have had a full pre-season and that makes a big difference," said the 23-year-old former Anderlecht midfield player.

Prolific Genk
Brugge's first-day opponents Genk cannot be ruled out either, despite losing key forwards Wesley Sonck (AFC Ajax) and Moumouni Dagano (En Avant Guingamp) over the close season. Cédric Roussel and Paul Kpaka proved last term that they can score goals with 40 between them, while youngster Kevin Vandenbergh registered 14 times as well.

Skoko missed
Former captain Josip Skoko, who has joined Turkey's Gençlerbirligi SK, may well prove to be the most significant departure, however, as coach Sef Vergoossen explained: "We are still looking for a midfield player to replace Skoko. We need a man who can provide the short passes for our excellent strikers."

Hopeful outsiders
With four UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup places available for Belgian clubs, R. Standard de Liège, KSC Lokeren OV, K. Lierse SK, KAA Gent and RAA Louviéroise are all in with a shout of European football in 2004/05.

New teams
Relegation candidates include both newly-promoted sides, K. Heusden-Zolder and Cercle Brugge KSV, although Heusden-Zolder have plenty of support from neighbours Genk, with many players on loan at the club and Japanese international striker Takayuki Suzuki also on board.

Relegation candidates
Many believe that R. Charleroi SC are also earmarked for the drop. Still in deep financial trouble, they were spared relegation last season after both KFC Lommelse SK and KV Mechelen were forced to withdraw from the league. They may not be so lucky this time.