The number of Dutch professional football clubs regarded as financially vulnerable has risen from five to 12 over the past year, the football association KNVB said on Thursday.

PEC Zwolle, Roda JC, RKC Waalwijk, NEC, FC Dordrecht, VVV-Venlo, FC Den Bosch and Telstar have been added to the category 1 list alongside De Graafschap, Fortuna Sittard, FC Twente and NAC Breda. Eight of the 12 clubs are in the Jupiler or first division.

Clubs identified as financially weak have three years to ensure they are no longer included on the list. The Netherlands has 34 professional football clubs spread over two divisions.

The KNVB considers just nine of the country’s clubs to be financially sound, of which seven are in the Eredivisie, including Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord.

‘This shows that professional football is not having an easy time of it, financially speaking,’ said KNVB spokesman Mark Boetekees. ‘Clubs have been doing their best to reduce their costs but at the same time, we can see that income is under pressure. The KNVB will continue to support clubs in their financial strategies.’