Gelsenkirchen (dpa) – Christina Rühl-Hamers, the board member responsible for finances at FC Schalke 04, has sworn the club members of the Bundesliga promoted to financially more complicated times.
“We’re on the right track, but we’re still a long way from where we want to be,” said the 45-year-old at the district club’s general meeting. The Gelsenkircheners have recently reduced their debts by 33.5 million euros. However, the liabilities are still 183.5 million euros. “The backpack has become lighter, but it’s still heavily filled,” said Rühl-Hamers.
Schalke recently found out what that means in terms of sport, among other things, on the transfer market. Schalke could not afford to sign the key player Ko Itakura, who was loaned out by Manchester City, for around six million euros. “Are we competitive with our budget in the 1st division? Yes,” said Rühl-Hamers. “Now can we do anything we’d like to do? No.”
The board member announced: “We will continue on the path of commercial reason we have taken.” She added: “We will improve our financial capacity to act step by step.”