Union Saint-Gilloise technical director Chris O’Loughlin has defended their relationship with Brighton and Hove Albion, insisting criticism is unwarranted.
The director has been speaking to Het Belang Van Limburg, relayed by Walfoot, amid growing criticism of the club and their relationship with the Seagulls.
Both sides are owned by Tony Bloom, although the Belgians are run separately from their Premier League counterparts.
They are seen as something of a sister club to the bigger club, with several of Brighton’s players moving there in recent years.
That hasn’t gone down well in Belgium, with critics voicing their opposition to any praise for Union and claims that they are a small club achieving beyond their means.
That’s frustrated O’Loughlin, though, who points to deals for players such as Moises Caicedo, who spent time on loan at Beerschot, as an example that there’s nothing to criticise.
“It’s a somewhat limited view of things,” he said.
“Brighton also lends players to other Belgian clubs. Alzate plays at Standard, Scherpen at Ostend.
“Brighton and Union are separate clubs, each with their own history. We rent Yorbe Vertessen from PSV, that means nothing.”
