At the end of May, after SV Guntamatic Ried was relegated to the second division, Roland Daxl resigned as president. Thomas Gahleitner succeeded him on an interim basis. On October 10th, the 35-year-old from Kopfing was elected as the new president of SV Ried for two years at the general meeting of SV Ried. “On the one hand, we want to ensure stability, security and trust at SV Guntamatic Ried and re-establish our club in the Bundesliga. We also focus on regionality – everyone, the club, the team and our great fans, should be proud Rieders”said Gahleitner when he took office two weeks ago. Before the 4-1 home win against Vienna, Gahleitner took time for a detailed interview on Friday. The managing director of the Kopfinger company Gahleitner Installationen with 125 employees has been on the board of SV Ried since 2013, most recently he was vice president.
You have been on the board of SV Ried for around ten years. Was it ever your goal to become president?
Thomas Gahleitner: No, that was never part of my life plan. Basically, the role of Vice President was exactly right for me. I was able to make good use of my good contacts with sponsors and politicians. And it’s not a one-man show, on the contrary: the new executive board is broad and excellently positioned. We are all pulling together and everyone is contributing their skills for the benefit of SV Ried.
How difficult or easy was it for you to decide to run for president at the general meeting?
It wasn’t easy. I run a company with more than 120 employees, which is a big responsibility. I also have to take care of my own health. So I really thought this step through very carefully. I am convinced that I can handle this additional burden well. The entire Executive Board bears a great deal of responsibility for many employees. SV Ried is a company with an annual turnover of around eight million euros (Bundesliga). But it’s not a compulsory task for me, because the club is extremely close to my heart. The work is fun, I want to continue to use my good contacts for the benefit of our SV Ried and ensure that the club gets back to where it belongs.
And where does SV Ried belong?
Our club must become an established part of the Bundesliga again. The potential is there, in terms of infrastructure we are one of the best clubs in Austria. We also have an office with several great and loyal employees. One thing must be clear to all of us, regardless of whether we are a player, coach, employee, board member or volunteer: the club is above everything.
How painful did the relegation to the second division hurt?
That was and is extremely painful, that is beyond question. Luckily our financial situation is very good, but the Second League costs a lot of money. Thanks to the support of our loyal sponsors and partners and the financial reserves of the past few years, it is possible that we can invest in the sporting area for two years so that we can achieve our big goal – promotion.
Wouldn’t it have been better to invest more money in the quality of the team in the relegation season? Maybe that would have prevented relegation to the second division.
That’s difficult to answer, but the sporting management probably should have invested a little more and better in the squad. Financial resources would still have been available. But you’re always smarter in hindsight. We as the board probably should have taken a closer look here.
How important is the Bundesliga for Ried?
If we want to continue to run the club like this, we have to get promoted again. The academy is currently being expanded, adding a new training center and stadium. With this infrastructure, the environment and the great fans, it is not our aim to play permanently in the second division.
A two-year plan was presented before the season, according to which promotion should be achieved by the 2024/25 season at the latest. What if you miss that goal?
The budget for this and next season is in place. To be honest, you have to say that you can never plan anything 100 percent, especially not in football. Our aim is to get back on track quickly. We simply owe that to our loyal sponsors, almost all of whom have remained loyal to us despite our renewed relegation, and to our fans.
After a less than ideal start to the season, the team is getting better and better. There have been four wins and one draw from the last five games. What else is possible this season? The gap to league leaders GAK is currently nine points.
The gap should not be underestimated, but nothing has been decided in the title fight yet. For us, the main thing now is to continue the upward trend in sport. If we don’t manage promotion this season, we must succeed in having the most powerful team in the league in the summer of 2024. The foundation for this is laid week after week.
How do you assess the work of coach Maximilian Senft and sports director Wolfgang Fiala?
The upward trend and the ever-improving performance are no coincidence. Senft, the coaching team and the team are currently doing a very good job. A quiet environment is important. All I can say about Fiala is that he is the undisputed sporting boss in the club. I am convinced that he will still celebrate his successes in Ried.
How important are the fans for SV Ried?
Our supporters are an absolute constant and more than ready for the Bundesliga. The fans have always carried the club forward, whether in the first or second league, and are a great support for us. Several Bundesliga clubs can only dream of such loud support.
Do you have any idea how long you will hold the office of SVR President?
No. What is much more important is that the club continues to be economically as positive as before. If we make it back to the Bundesliga, then we’ll keep looking. What’s important is that I’m passionate about the task. If that were to happen at some point, for whatever reason, I would have to worry. But that’s just a thing of the future, it’s just getting started now.
Video interview with Thomas Gahleitner
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