Sports director Fernie promoted
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With 15 goals to date, Darmstadt’s top scorer Isac Lindberg has attracted attention this season. As the TV channel “Sky” reports, the Swede, who has a contract until 2027, is about to leave, so several national and international clubs are vying for the 27-year-old’s services. The lilies are calling for a record internal transfer fee in the event of a sale.
Lidberg moved from FC Utrecht to Böllenfalltor in 2024. Since then he has played 61 competitive games in the Darmstadt jersey, in which he has scored 41 times. In the current season, only two players in the lower house have scored more often than the three-time national player (here is the list of goalscorers in the 2nd Bundesliga). The attacker had increased his market value with the Hessians from 700,000 euros to 5 million euros. According to the broadcaster’s report, the latter is also the second division club’s idea of a transfer. If Lidberg were to leave the club in the summer for this sum, he would be the club’s sole record sale.
Darmstadt’s chances of promotion to the Bundesliga had diminished in the past few weeks, with three game days before the end of the season, coach Florian Kohfeldt’s team is separated by six points from the relegation place and seven from a direct promotion place. It is quite possible that Lidberg wants to take the next step in his career in the summer, especially since he is in an attractive situation due to his sporting achievements. According to Sky, in addition to several Bundesliga clubs, the international clubs Olympique Lyon and Benfica Lisbon are also interested in Lidberg.
Darmstadt 98 commits to Fernie long-term – moves up in management
Meanwhile, the second division club has extended the contract with Paul Fernie early and for the long term. As part of the extension of his contract, the previous sports director is also moving up to the management level and will now act as managing director of sports. Fernie took up the position as sports director at the Lilies in April 2024 and is now part of the four-person management team.
President Markus Pfitzner said about the personnel: “Paul has achieved an enormous amount in the last two years: He has further professionalized our sports structure and developed us as a club further in terms of content with his innovative approaches. Above all, he has managed to ensure that we play a very good role in the second division again after a difficult one-year Bundesliga intermezzo. With this long-term contract, Paul is clearly committed to the lilies. Together with Tom Eilers, he will continue to push forward the path of consistent professionalization, see you “At this point we are in the best possible position for the future. The upgrading of his title to Managing Director of Sports, which is also visible to the outside world, is an expression of the great trust and our firm belief in Paul.”
Fernie himself also explained his decision in detail: “It’s no secret that I feel very comfortable in this special club and the environment and that I really enjoy working for SV 98. The decisive factor for my extension was the strong relationship of trust with our executive committee and the transparency in dealing with and in relation to mutual expectations. Markus and his team are very keen to understand, understand and support our daily business and our decision-making processes. That’s what my work does, for example in squad planning, “This knowledge, coupled with a clear perspective, made it easy for me to decide on a long-term extension.” I’m really looking forward to our future together.”
