Felice Mazzù takes the fall for Charleroi’s failure, but issues go beyond the head coach

Charleroi confirmed yesterday that Felice Mazzù will not be in charge of the side for the upcoming relegation play-offs. Following the sides 5-0 defeat away to Gent on the final day of the season, the side dropped into the bottom four and face the possibility of going down to the second tier. Former Union St Gilloise and Anderlecht head coach Mazzù returned to the side where he had previously had success, but was unable to bring about the good times once again.

It is unsurprising that Mazzù was not successful in a club that, over the past two years, has really dropped the ball when it comes to player recruitment. There have been far too many misses instead of hits, and without a striker regularly finding the net the side have struggled for goals all season. Yet needing just a point to be guaranteed of safety in their final game against Gent, the 5-0 demolishing will have certainly scared the clubs board. Inevitably, it is the head coach who bares the brunt of this failure.

Yet even then, the club have been keen to point out that Mazzù is not the only one responsible for the failure of this season. In the press release they said that they do not place full responsibility on the head coach for their current predicament. However, fans will be frustrated hearing that Mehdi Bayat, the individual that many blame for their current issues, will be fully involved in the new strategic process that aims to change the sides course.

Charleroi go into the relegation play-offs with a five point lead over both Kortrijk and Eupen, who occupy the relegation play-off spot and the automatic relegation spot respectively. RWDM are bottom of this mini group of four, six points behind Charleroi.