Vitesse on brink of survival, takeover by local consortium imminent

 

Vitesse on brink of survival, takeover by local consortium imminent Vitesse Arnhem, one of the oldest professional clubs in Dutch football, is on the edge of being saved after facing the threat of losing its professional licence for the second time in a year. The club recently confirmed that a local consortium called De Sterkhouders Vitesse Arnhem which means The Strongmen Vitesse Arnhem has taken steps to acquire 100% of the club’s shares. This group had already stepped in back in 2024 with a €6 million cash injection to cover Vitesse’s budget shortfall. The club described this move as a dream come true for supporters, with ownership finally returning to local hands. The statement read, “The club is back in the hands of the region.” The aim is clear: keep Vitesse alive as a professional club and stabilize its future. The takeover comes after a rocky few years. In January 2025, an international ownership group involving Americans and Germans tried to take over the club but ran into licensing issues. The KNVB (Dutch FA) believed controversial businessman Coley Parry, whose prior takeover attempt was rejected, might still be influencing things behind the scenes. Vitesse is now working closely with the KNVB to finalise its new budget and meet the conditions needed to retain its licence. Backed by its local bank and accounting firm, and supported by the regional fanbase, the club believes it’s finally on the right track. Talks with the FA’s independent licensing committee are ongoing.

The trouble began when a group of international investors Americans Dane Murphy and Flint Reilly, Germans Timo Braasch and Leon Muller, and Italian-American Bryan Mornaghi took over Vitesse in January 2025. But the KNVB had serious concerns about whether Coley Parry, who had previously been denied a takeover due to licensing violations, was still pulling strings from behind the scenes. Reports suggested that Parry had assembled the new ownership group himself. As a result, the Dutch FA hesitated to approve the new regime, putting Vitesse’s professional status in danger. Murphy has since left the group to take over as CEO of Charlton Athletic, and Braasch is said to have already sold his shares, along with other co-owners. Mornaghi has not responded to recent outreach from the local consortium. Faced with continued uncertainty and a revoked licence hanging over their heads, the local Sterkhouders group has stepped forward once again, aiming to stabilise and rebuild the club. The group submitted a fresh, updated budget to the KNVB and is in active talks with the FA’s licensing body. They’ve highlighted strong support from ING Bank and their long-term partners, CROP Accountants, as key steps toward proving the club’s financial health. The main goal: keep the KNVB licence and stay in professional football. Vitesse spent 34 straight seasons in the Eredivisie from 1990 to 2024 and had a notable past partnership with Chelsea, often appearing in European competitions. Despite the chaos off the pitch, the new plan offers fans hope that the team can avoid dissolution and continue its proud history. The coming weeks will be crucial, as talks with the KNVB continue. Supporters and club officials alike are hopeful this hometown takeover is the fresh start Vitesse desperately needs.

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