Sport managing director Samir Arabi has resigned after twelve years with the second division soccer team Arminia Bielefeld.
The supervisory board of East Westphalia, which was threatened with relegation, accepted the 44-year-old’s proposal to resign from his post after a crisis meeting on Monday evening (March 6th, 2023). This was announced by Arminia. After 23 match days, the Bundesliga relegated team is third from bottom in the table and has only won one of the last six games. Coach Daniel Scherning, on the other hand, is apparently allowed to continue for the time being.
“I was always passionate about working for Arminia and experienced numerous special moments during that time. In the current critical sporting situation, I would like to make a personal contribution with my retirement so that a new impetus can be set at a central point in the club.”said Arabi.
Risk of relegation
Arabi came to Bielefeld as a sports director in March 2011 and was promoted to managing director in 2016. In the meantime, Arminia had been promoted to the Bundesliga under the then coach Uwe Neuhaus, but were relegated after two years last summer.
Arabi had no luck with the newly hired coach Uli Forte. Even after the separation from the 48-year-old in August 2022, the hoped-for turnaround did not materialize under the new coach Scherning. The second descent in a row threatens.
Tense mood
Scherning is surprisingly allowed to continue for the time being and prepare the team for the game against leaders Darmstadt 98 on Saturday. Scherning described the last duel with direct competitor Eintracht Braunschweig as the most important of the entire season, but in the end only played 3:3 with his team despite a 3:0 lead.
The atmosphere around the club has been tense for months. The fans had recently criticized Arabi in particular and blamed them for the misery.