Sint-Truiden, owned by Japanese corporation DMM, have dismissed the notion that they are considering the club’s video analyst Takahisa Shiraishi for the vacated managerial position.

The Jupiler Pro League side announced on 26 November the sacking of Marc Brys, and the installation of U21 manager Nicky Hayen in the interim position. And according to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, Shiraishi is in “pole position” to succeed Brys.

In response to the article, club chairman David Meekers denied that possibility altogether. “As far as I know, he (the new manager) won’t be a Japanese,” he said. “The person will be someone who knows our competition.”

Former Sint-Truiden player Marc Wilmots, who is currently managing the Iran national team, is looking to return to the club where he began his career. But the article opined that the club’s longstanding icon Hayen would most likely hold onto the position for the moment, “The management at STVV – one that is strong on Japanese influence – has a firm trust in Hayen’s ability as a manager.”

A section of the supporters have decried the “Japanisation” of their club, following the signing of Daniel Schmidt, Yuma Suzuki and Tatsuya Ito this season, and the management will likely want to avoid escalating the situation by appointing a Japanese manager.

For Japanese football news: CoolJapan Soccer

Source: Yahoo

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