Paul Gheysens won’t rush into sacking Stef Wils as head coach of struggling Antwerp | OneFootball

It’s safe to say that Stef Wils has not been enjoying his first few months in charge of Antwerp. The side went for Wils after trying to tempt Rik De Mil away from Charleroi. It was clear from the outset that Wils was the sides second choice. Now, with the side second from bottom in the Belgian Pro League, it looks like a matter of when not if Wils will be relieved of his duties. However, in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad, chairman Paul Gheysens kept his cards close to his chest.

Gheysens, who has been a major factor in Antwerp’s return from the wilderness to being a side capable of winning trophies in Belgium, said that they ‘don’t want to make any emotional decisions‘. After the game with Sint Truiden this weekend, which his side lost 1-0, Wils was bullish in stating that he believed he could turn things around and would not give up. Gheysens himself wants to get to the bottom of why things are as bad as they have been. In his interview with the Belgian paper, he said he wants a full picture of the players and coaching staff, rather than just blaming Wils. On the pitch it appears that the trust between player and head coach has now gone, but Gheysens is keen to hear from the players first before making the decision to get rid of Wils.

The head coach lacks experience of being a number one and it appears that the situation in Antwerp was too big a task. The side has lost a number of key players over the last two seasons and Wils can count himself unlucky that the replacements have not been of the same level. However, three wins from 14 games is not something that Gheysens and the fans can really accept, as the talent level is not that of a side that should be in the bottom four.

De Mil is likely to stay at Charleroi, so if Antwerp do move on from Wils they will need to look beyond their number one target at a head coach who can galvanize the side and steer them away from the bottom four.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson