According to a media report, an opposition group led by long-standing supervisory board chairman Clemens Tönnies is planning to remove the current management team at FC Schalke 04. However, Tönnies’ role seems to be much smaller than expected.
According to “WAZ”, Clemens Tönnies is informed about all the events of his colleagues, but the former Schalke boss has not yet had an active role. He is also not one of the authors of the open letter that the opposition group wants to publish and in which the current Schalke leadership is called on to resign.
Nevertheless, Tönnies accepts that his name is mentioned “in the headlines as a driving force”.
“Bild” had previously reported on the composition of the opposition group. In addition to Clemens Tönnies, the former team doctor and supervisory board member Dr. Armin Langhorst, ex-professional Ingo Anderbrügge, former DFB general secretary Helmut Sandrock and long-time coach Peter Neururer.
Tönnies, who with his subsidiary Böklunder is still considered one of the most important premium sponsors in the club and makes millions in payments to the club every year, also maintains contacts with other major sponsors who are critical of the developments at Schalke. These should be the sponsors Veltins, HRS, Stölting and Hagedorn.
Criticism of FC Schalke 04 just a “saber rattling”?
The fact that the Schalke management around CEO Matthias Tillmann and supervisory board boss Axel Hefer want to sell the catering and marketing rights in order to create new financial resources is one of the group’s main criticisms. According to “WAZ”, many other decisions made by the club’s management are being criticized; the election of CEO Tillmann is already a thorn in the side of the group.
In addition, a lack of football expertise, poor communication and too close proximity to the Ultras Gelsenkirchen are criticized.
It is currently not possible to vote out the Supervisory Board. Hefer’s contract is valid until 2026, before which he can only leave his position by resigning.