And so some Hertha fans sang on the way home after the 0-1 defeat against HSV: “BSC, we’re there, every game, that’s clear. 2nd division hurts so much, don’t give a damn, BSC.”
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But no matter how “damn” the descent would be for some frustrated supporters, it would be a major setback for the club in many ways.
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A tremor on the top floor
On May 29, six days after the relegation second leg against Hamburger SV, the general meeting is scheduled for Berlin. Particularly in focus: Werner Gegenbauer. The President would be counted even in the event of relegation. Since taking office in 2008, Hertha has been relegated twice, only saved itself shortly before the end of last season and is now about to return to the second division.
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During this time, Gegenbauer relied on managing director Michael Preetz for too long, who never built a sustainable structure in the club. In addition, he fell out with investor Lars Windhorst, who is now demanding his deselection at that general meeting. Windhorst has the same wish as many fans, but that’s where the similarities end. The banner “Windhorst and Gegenbauer out!” has been hanging in the east stand for weeks. The ultras want to get rid of the president and investor. According to the “Bild” there are even motions against the entire presidency, which is actually elected until 2024.
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A descent would make it almost inevitable that President Gegenbauer and Vice Thorsten Manske would be voted out. If they didn’t anticipate this by resigning.
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What will become of Bobic?
After many years under Michael Preetz and six months under Arne Friedrich, Fredi Bobic came to Berlin last summer. The 50-year-old successfully converted Eintracht Frankfurt and should now do the same with Hertha. But errors in squad planning and in the choice of coach threw the BSC back. Although Bobic managed to reduce the salary structure, which was far too high, he did not bring in any stability.
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That’s why the pressure on him as managing director is increasing. He rebuilt Hertha’s office according to his wishes and brought some employees with him from Frankfurt. However, the fans did not see the hoped-for yield. On the contrary: the club gave a more familiar picture: one person (formerly Preetz, now Bobic) designs everything according to their ideas and creates a certain dependency.
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