Hertha President Kay Bernstein has credited himself with uniting the club. Now he has to find a solution to the club’s financial misery Photo: picture alliance/dpa
By Paul Gorgas
Fresh money is needed! Hertha President Kay Bernstein (42), who was elected in June, has to face tough realities.
Finance boss Thomas Herrich (58) presented the horror numbers of the past season to the fans at the general meeting on Sunday in the Messe Berlin: around 80 million euros loss, liabilities of almost 81 million euros. Of this, 40 million euros must be repaid by autumn 2023. Herrich: “We have to tighten our belts.”
Boss Bernstein speaks of a “marathon” on the way to economically better times. The club is now examining all options to raise fresh money for the club.
Bernstein: “We need a lot of creativity in many areas. Be it debt or equity, your own bonds, the sale of additional shares – nothing is impossible. Anything can happen there. It’s a marathon and we’re at kilometer five.”
In a good mood: Hertha coach Sandro Schwarz (right) with supervisory board boss Klaus Brüggemann (left) and supervisory board member Andreas Schmidt at the general meeting Photo: Press Photo – Engler
Means: A new investor would also be possible. In the summer, Bernstein had ruled out short-term financial aid from the then investor Lars Windhorst (45/wanted to sell his shares for EUR 374 million). In view of the economic difficulties and the austerity measures that have become necessary, Hertha could now urgently need a new investor with fresh money.
Supervisory board boss Klaus Brüggemann (63) speaks of “exorbitant economic challenges”. The financial expert had to survive a vote-out motion at the meeting. Brüggemann had been accused of alleged backroom collusion and influence on the presidential election campaign. But only 614 of the 1189 valid votes were cast out, meaning that the necessary three-quarters majority was clearly missed.
A motion was accepted with a large majority, according to which the club should officially reject the World Cup in Qatar. Bernstein: “We will position ourselves publicly with a letter in which we reject the award for us as Hertha BSC.”