More than once shouted "the wolf is coming", the wolf really stepped into the threshold. If the plight of Hebei Football Club fails to usher in a turnaround, "closing" this seemingly saddest choice, may have to start.
At the beginning of the season, Hebei Football Club was in financial trouble, or rather, the parent company was completely cut off after encountering numerous difficulties. The club then had to sell players to make ends meet, and the ensuing problems included internal strife during the Chinese Super League, even to the point that on October 26th, Hebei FC announced a strike and vacation.
Even on October 26th, there was still optimism about Hebei's participation in the second phase of the Chinese Super League, as they had already fielded a young lineup in the AFC Cup, and they were fully capable of replicating that strategy in the second phase. What's especially important is that in the second phase of the Super League, the clubs only have to pay for the team's round-trip expenses, the tournament expenses are borne by the Super League officials, and there is no relegation pressure on Hebei, so even if they do not perform well, they can still stay in the top eight. Therefore, it is not impossible to send young players to participate in the tournament, especially, even if they are owed wages, young players would like to be given the opportunity to train and grow.
However, the situation seems to have taken a sharp turn for the worse as we enter mid-November. Due to financial pressure, Hebei Football Club has recently laid off staff one after another, including managers in the commercial, technical and youth training departments, and even some directors.
More crucially, the club's general manager, Li Jun, was transferred back to the headquarters of the Huaxia Wonderful Group in Beijing at the beginning of the month, a responsibility that can be relinquished at any time despite the fact that he is still in charge of the club's affairs within the group. Prior to this, Hebei Football Club's strong run into the top eight of the Chinese Super League in the 2021 season despite the parent company's broken supply had a lot to do with Li Jun's operations, including strategies such as breaking his arm to survive and reusing young players.
HBFC's youth teams have also taken a full vacation, with some waiting, some looking for their next home, and even news that some have given up on soccer.
Looking at the first team, the team went on vacation after completing the first phase of the Chinese Super League. During the preparation for the F.A.C.A. Cup, the old players did not return to the team, and the club only called up the young players in the first team and some part of the team to form a young mixed team to participate in the F.A.C.A. Cup matches. After the F.A.C.A. Cup game, with the club's "strike vacation", this part of the team also went on vacation.
As of now, there is no news of a centralized first team.
As for head coach Kim Jong-bu and his team, the club had originally planned for him to return, but due to the club's increasing difficulties, Kim's return date has been repeatedly postponed. If this situation continues, I'm afraid Kim Jong-bu won't be back even if Hebei finally participates in the second phase of the Chinese Super League.
Sources said that the club stayed staff has been notified, if the relevant departments did not come up with a solution before the end of November, to be prepared for the worst, and this worst preparation is naturally the closing.
In a nutshell, HBFC's psychological journey after the parent company cut off its supply was like this: at first they were worried, then the introduction of the mixed-reform plan sparked hope, but the mixed-reform plan was slow to move forward, and they were first worried, then disappointed, then the disappointment gradually deepened, and the layoffs and staffing adjustments mean that HBFC is now almost in despair.
The previous not to give up because of the Hebei soccer bear the responsibility, but if Hebei related parties are still indifferent, the club's persistence and what is the meaning of it?
