Fortuna: uncertain future and contract termination for the ‘disappeared’ top striker

Fortuna Sittard has maintained itself well in the Eredivisie, but the question is still whether the KNVB will grant permission for the takeover of the shares by the discredited Atilla Aytekin. A kind of sword of Damocles that hangs over the future of the Limburg club, especially in the financial field.

Still not. There is still no permission from Zeist for the share transfer to Aytekin and his partner Umut Akpinar. The two men are full of ambitions that were expressed in the last phase of 2022 by the former lender. Fortuna must play in the sub-top within three years in terms of budget and compete for European football.

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Nice and heroic words from Aytekin, but at the time the businessman did not yet know that an investigation by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) would also be launched into Principion. This holding company is part of software company Azerion van Aytekin. Pending that investigation, the intended Fortuna owner stepped down as CEO of Azerion.

For the Limburgers, however, the businessman is very important in terms of financial scope. The fact that his doings are – partly – under a magnifying glass is not favorable for Fortuna to say the least. And the fact that permission for the share transfer is still missing certainly does not do the Limburg club’s future plans any good.

It should also not be forgotten that not so long ago the management of Fortuna Sittard could pay the players’ salaries with a delay because unforeseen costs had surfaced that had to be paid first. That was already a sign on the wall that things are not always rosy in terms of finances in Sittard. Although the management of the club did it differently at the time.

It is virtually impossible that Burak Yilmaz, the Turkish striker who has not played in recent weeks and who seemed to be abroad more than he was in Sittard, will still play for Fortuna next season. In the background, both parties are discussing a possible dissolution of the attacker’s contract for another four years.

Despite the uncertain financial situation of the Limburg premier league player, the technical management also has to hold talks with other players who want to keep longer in South Limburg. For example, Fortuna wants to continue with striker Paul Gladon, who has fewer qualities than Yilmaz but does work hard and occasionally scores. The same goes for midfielder Deroy Duarte.

Both players have contracts that run until 2024, but Fortuna wants to break them open. Experienced defender Roel Janssen, who played little or not this season, stops as a footballer in Sittard. He can continue his career at the club in another position, but Janssen is still changing his mind about that at the moment. It is possible that he will play football for another club next season.

Wing defender George Cox, who for years almost always had a basic place in Sittard’s service, has decided to return to England with his family. In his homeland he is in talks with various clubs from the Championship, the second professional level, to continue his career there.