Hertha BSC: Investor Windhorst takes on club leadership

boom That has sat. In the middle of the sporting descent towards the relegation zone, million-dollar investor Lars Windhorst suddenly talked tacheles at Hertha BSC and gave the management of his “Big City Club” a pathetic certificate of good conduct. The devastating verdict of the disappointed financier is that “preservation of power and cliques” are the driving force behind the people acting at the Berlin Bundesliga club. “I was counting on people at Hertha who think rationally and think about the future, who also want lasting success, to be in charge,” said the entrepreneur – but that’s just not the case.

Exactly two years after Jürgen Klinsmann’s noisy departure, the allegations of the prominent ex-supervisory board and ex-coach against the bosses of the permanently troubled capital club are repeated. In contrast to Klinsmann, who has long since returned to America, Windhorst did not name names in his general statement.

Fredi Bobic is not the target of criticism – not yet

According to information from the German Press Agency, the managing director Fredi Bobic, who was hired last summer, should not (yet) be meant, despite his badly scheduled Super Bowl vacation in the USA. The target of the Windhorst scolding are two long-term officials in finance boss Ingo Schiller and club president Werner Gegenbauer.

Hertha responded on Wednesday, obviously surprised by the move, with a brief statement and now wants to seek talks. “Mr. Windhorst has not made any statements in this form either in the relevant meetings of the club or to people in the club. All decisions have been made unanimously in the advisory board since he joined Hertha BSC. We will ask him about it,” it said when asked by the dpa.

After his return to America, Bobic still has a construction site to work on, if he wants to act as a mediator between the Hertha worlds at all. He himself had denounced quite sharply on Club TV in December: “At Hertha it was like at the office: we’ve always done it that way, so let’s keep doing it.” He spoke Windhorst certainly from the soul.

375 million euros invested since summer 2019

Windhorst has made 375 million euros available to Hertha through its Tennor Group since the summer of 2019. The sporting development has been disastrous since then. Relegation battle as a permanent condition instead of the Champions League glamor Windhorst hoped for – and he himself is not officially allowed to intervene in day-to-day business. The entrepreneur, who is often viewed critically for his activities, has now reached a pain threshold. He now even describes his million-dollar payments as a mistake.

“To be honest, from today’s perspective yes, unfortunately. So far, investing in Hertha has only brought me disadvantages, apart from positive experiences with many members,” said Windhorst. However, the former wonder boy of the German economy is not thinking of withdrawing or selling the 66.6 percent stake in Hertha GmbH & Co. KGaA at a loss. “I won’t let anyone burn me 375 million euros there and will never give up,” said Windhorst.

Apparently, the sponsor’s statements ensnared the members of the counter-builders who were critical. There are now many indications of a power struggle towards the general meeting in May, which could put Hertha to the test.

The relationship was never easy

The Windhorst/Hertha relationship was never easy. After joining the company, the financier quickly noticed a massive cultural difference. “Two mentalities” collided, he said a year ago in the hope of being able to overcome the rifts. When his million installments were paid later than planned last year, the association and investor tried hard to close ranks in public. Even then, observers sensed a thick masquerade.

In terms of sport, the Berliners have been in a worse position than before since Windhorst joined. Coach Tayfun Korkut’s team is currently in the relegation battle with a one-point lead over the relegation rank, just like last year. Windhorst had made it clear that he had not intended his money for economic consolidation, but for investment in internationally capable players.

It has long been clear that without the Windhorst millions, Hertha would not have come through the corona crisis so unscathed. CFO Schiller said before the digital general meeting in January: “It’s a partnership that puts us in a comparably good position and keeps us in a stable situation.”