With the final whistle of the game against the amateurs of Sturm Graz (2-1) on Sunday afternoon, a real party marathon began at FC Blau-Weiss Linz: After the game, the newly promoted Bundesliga team went by bus from the Hofmann-Personal-Stadion in the center of Linz, where the “Rox” bar was specially reserved for the Linz champions. Managing director Christoph Peschek was one of the last to go home: “As managing director, I naturally have a certain duty of care, which is why I took on the closing shift. Yesterday, blue and white Monday, however, regeneration was the order of the day.”
For the majority of the blue and white kickers and the support team, however, there was no time to catch their breath: Yesterday they volleyed from Salzburg towards Spain, where the blue and white title party continues in Mallorca. “We’ll celebrate for three days,” said coach Gerald Scheiblehner – and corrected himself in the next sentence: “Our kickers have staying power even when we’re partying, we’ve been through it. It didn’t work out for me.” The flights were booked in the night from Sunday to Monday, on Thursday the master delegation will return.
Only neo-sports director Christoph Schösswendter breaks the tents earlier: The 34-year-old is already finishing the party marathon today – with good reason: A lot of work awaits Tino Wawra’s successor in the coming weeks: He has to put together a team suitable for the Bundesliga. It was relatively easy for Paul Mensah and Julian Gölles: their contracts were automatically extended as a result of promotion. Fally Mayulu (Rapid) and assistant coach Ernö Doma (ex-Edelweiss coach Ronald Riepl is under discussion as a replacement) will leave the club immediately, and Matthias Seidl is also about to be transferred to Sturm Graz. Scheiblehner: “It’s not done yet, but we assume that he will leave us. We want to continue on our way and sign quality players.” With a budget of around six million euros, Blau-Weiss declares staying up in the league as a major goal.
Steyr: Madlener-Aus sealed
While the people of Linz are promoted to the upper house, Vorwarts Steyr has to return to the regional league after five years. The sporting relegation will also have far-reaching consequences: the club will return to amateur operations. A professional company is no longer possible in the current situation for financial reasons. The club will also make another decision: At one of the board meetings, the end of coach Daniel Madlener should be sealed.
Source: Nachrichten
