RC Lens head coach Will Still has confirmed that midfielders Stijn Spierings and Salis Abdul Samed have been assigned to train with the club’s reserve team. The decision, announced during a press conference on Friday, is aimed at maintaining the quality and cohesion of the first-team training sessions as the squad prepares for the upcoming Ligue 1 season.
“For the well-being of the group and the training sessions, and to maintain quality, it was necessary to trim the group a little.
So these two will not be there either,” explained Still, who took over as Lens’ head coach this summer, replacing Franck Haise.
The move to demote Spierings and Abdul Samed comes amid ongoing efforts by Lens to balance their books following a challenging transfer window.
Initially, the club had aimed to generate over 100 million euros through player sales to bolster their financial position.
However, they have only managed to secure 25 million euros so far, with the sale of forward Elye Wahi to Olympique de Marseille being the most significant transaction.
At 28, Stijn Spierings has recently returned from a loan spell at Toulouse, a club where he previously spent time before joining Lens.
His demotion to the reserve squad suggests that the club may be seeking a departure for the Dutch midfielder as they continue to search for ways to raise the remaining 75 million euros needed.
Similarly, Salis Abdul Samed, another key midfielder, has also been sidelined, with his future at the club now uncertain.
The decision to remove Spierings and Abdul Samed from first-team training opens up opportunities for other players in the squad.
Nempalys Mendy, Neil El-Aynaoui, and Andy Diouf are now expected to compete for starting positions in the midfield.
Their performances in the upcoming matches will be closely watched as they seek to cement their places in the team.
Lens is set to kick off their Ligue 1 campaign on Sunday, with an away match against Angers at 5 p.m.
The team will be looking to make a strong start to the season despite the ongoing uncertainties surrounding their squad.
As the season begins, Lens supporters will be eager to see how the team adapts to these changes and whether the club can successfully navigate the financial challenges ahead.
This development adds a layer of complexity to Lens’ preparations for the new season, as the club balances its on-field ambitions with the financial realities of modern football.
The fate of Spierings and Abdul Samed remains to be seen, but for now, their exclusion from the first team indicates that their future at the club is in doubt.
Suivez la conférence de presse : le live de Will Still et Florian Sotoca avant #SCORCL #JourDeConf https://t.co/YdlqG8iANL
— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) August 16, 2024
