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RWD Molenbeek CEO Gauthier Ganaye has publically backed owner John Textor, insisting the club are not simply being used as a feeder side for the likes of Crystal Palace and Lyon.

Ganaye has been speaking to RTBF, relayed by Voetbal Nieuws, regarding the situation at the club and Textor, who has found himself coming in for criticism of late.

The American owns several football clubs are the world at this moment in time, with RWDM part of a network that includes some shares in Crystal Palace, as well as more complete control at Botafogo and Lyon.

His running of those clubs has been coming under increasing pressure, though, with Crystal Palace struggling under Roy Hodgson, Lyon currently in a relegation battle in Ligue 1 and Molenbeek in the relegation zone in Belgium.

Crystal Palace fans in particular have publically protested against his stake in the club and the running of it, while the complaint in Belgium has been that they are seen as nothing more than a feeder club for the bigger, more attractive sides in the group.

Ganaye does not agree with any criticism, though, and has instead moved to defend the American and how he goes about his business compared to other owners.

“John puts energy into all his clubs,” he said.

“He is involved in every decision at RWDM and really has a project for the club. He invests in the infrastructure and looks beyond this season.

“Textor is not an investor, but an entrepreneur. I worked at Ostend: there the bosses paid the takeover sum and after that they did not put a cent into the club. Textor is the opposite.”