“We can no longer cope with all this.” Months ago, Manfred Rothböck, chairman of FC Braunau (Landesliga West), turned to the club members, supporters and the municipality with this call for help. That was preceded by eleven arduous years in which he and his small board team tried to keep the club alive. In vain, as has been certain since Friday evening. At the extraordinary general meeting in the clubhouse, there was no one who could and wanted to continue the football club founded in 1919. The chairman is also certain: “It’s no longer possible. My strength is exhausted.”
Sleepless nights
Unlike some other clubs, FC Braunau’s biggest problem is not money, but the lack of support from volunteers. The entire work, from running the canteen to collecting the entrance fees, was left to a handful of people. “We didn’t even know how we could still organize the home games. That kept me so busy that it kept me from sleeping,” says Rothböck. The search for (young) reinforcements for the management team was also unsuccessful despite intensive efforts. Even the announcement made a few weeks ago that the club would be dissolved – if nothing changed in the situation – changed nothing.
And so came what had to come. Since on Friday evening when asked whether someone was ready to take over the club, only collective silence filled the clubhouse, FC Braunau will no longer register a team with the Upper Austrian Football Association for the new season and will be dissolved at the end of June. A step that hurts, but according to Rothböck is inevitable. “We fought for a long time, but now it’s time to face the bitter truth.”
But the chairman’s work is far from over. In the coming months, he and his helpers will have countless discussions and decisions to make. What is particularly close to Manfred Rothböck’s heart are the around 90 children who are currently playing at FC Braunau. A large part is to be accommodated by the clubs ATSV Ranshofen and Union St. Peter/H., with whom a syndicate already exists. “We already have two successful years behind us and we want it to stay that way. The cooperation works, is apolitical, without club glasses, collegial and exclusively geared to the well-being of the children. That’s exactly how we want to continue,” says Markus Skiba, coordinator of the play community.
The syndicate of the fighting teams from Braunau and Ranshofen should function much less harmoniously. The chemistry just doesn’t seem right. Nevertheless, both clubs want to pull together to finish the spring season properly. Given the tense situation, it is unlikely that relegation from the Landesliga West can still be averted – with only seven points from 13 games. In any case, it is certain that all championship games will be played in Ranshofen in the second half of the season.
The bitter end
These are prospects that make Manfred Rothböck’s heart heavy. “Nevertheless, I’m relieved that a decision has finally been made. Now we will take the necessary steps as quickly as possible and do our best to ensure that the club’s dissolution goes smoothly. Then everything will come to an end. Unfortunately, a bitter one.”
Source: Nachrichten
