There is a new development in the case surrounding the outstanding claims for player fees against ASK-BSC Bruck an der Leitha. The regional court in Korneuburg has now made a decision, paving the way for the next steps.
Background: Last year, numerous players took the former regional league team to court in order to get their outstanding wages. According to information from Younion, which represented the players in court, all cases were won for the players. The claims are said to amount to around 100,000 euros.
According to the union, the club defaulted on payments and was forced to file for bankruptcy. The club asked for a grace period until December 7th, but apparently nothing could be done during this time either. Instead, other players presented to the union and are now also part of the process.
Decision: Opening of insolvency without insolvency proceedings
As the Niederösterreichische Nachrichten found out when it asked the union, Younion was informed by the Korneuburg regional court that the ASK-BSC Bruck no longer even has the funds to cover insolvency proceedings, which leads to an insolvency declaration without insolvency proceedings.
What does this mean for the outstanding player fees? “Thanks to this finding by the court, we can now go directly to the Republic’s Insolvency Compensation Fund for our players in this matter and no longer have to wait for insolvency proceedings to be carried out. We are 100 percent confident that all players will get their money there,” says Thomas Trawöger, who is responsible for this matter at the union. Of course, he assesses the progress in the matter positively: “I see this as a success for us. I’m glad we were able to make a difference for our players here.”
Ronald Rödler: “We were not idle.”
And what does the club say about it? Chairman Johann Rödler Sr. referred in this regard to lawyer Dr. Ronald Rödler, who represented the club in the processes with the players and who also sits on the board as secretary. He didn’t know anything about the court’s decision on Tuesday: “I haven’t received anything yet and at the moment I can’t say anything in general about it.” When asked what measures the club had taken, Rödler emphasized: “We have not been idle. On the contrary, we were looking for solutions and had them, but in the end those who promised us help and support didn’t give them.”
According to Rödler, one circumstance made the search for a solution massively more difficult: “If the largest daily newspaper in the country says that a high six-figure sum is outstanding, while it is a high five-figure amount, then of course it makes solving the problem difficult. “
Trawöger: “The icing on the cake”
Despite the joy about the movement in this case, Thomas Trawöger from Younion emphasizes: “This is the icing on the cake. There are so many cases where clubs are essentially playing chess with their players. Payment practices are bad. Many players and coaches do not realize that these are clear employment relationships in which they have rights. I am convinced that if more players come to the union, we will achieve long-term improvements here. Then the clubs will realize that they have to be more careful.”
