In the middle of the relegation battle, Hertha BSC invites you to a general meeting. In the run-up there is rumbling – and not just because of the sporting situation.
On Sunday at 10 a.m. the doors to the exhibition hall 19 will open and the members of Hertha BSC will come together. At this point, however, the uncertainty about the sporting future of their club could still be great. Should the Berliners score points against Schalke (Friday 8:30 p.m.), things could remain exciting until the end of the season.
In the event of a defeat in Gelsenkirchen and simultaneous victories of the direct competitors in the fight for relegation, the capital club would not actually be relegated, but due to the poor goal difference it would probably be a practical relegation. The mood in which the club members gather on Sunday is therefore closely related to the outcome of the game on Friday.
Why does she General Assembly right now instead?
There are several reasons why the club – despite the uncertainty about whereabouts in the league – has already invited to the general meeting. The statute stipulates that the first general meeting of the year must take place in May at the latest.
Since a possible relegation second leg would not take place until June 5th, it was not possible to set the date after the safe end of the season. According to Hertha, a later date in May was also not feasible because the trade fair would not be available on Sunday (May 21) after the home game against Bochum and Pentecost Sunday (May 28) would be an unfavorable date for many members.
What are the main issues?
The reports from the Executive Committee and the Supervisory Board will probably focus primarily on the difficult sporting situation at Hertha BSC. But also to the financial problems and that Media report about possible difficulties with licensing for the coming season, the members will probably have questions. However, in the run-up to the general meeting, it was already clear from club circles that the licensing problem is probably much smaller than reported.
He caused further unrest surprising resignation of Ingmar Pering from the Hertha Presidium on Thursday. The resulting problems should be discussed with the members of the association. In addition, votes on some motions are still on the agenda. Among other things, it is about the deselection of the entire Executive Committee and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Klaus Brüggemann.
How promising are the voting motions?
A member’s 30-page submission contained six applications, four of which the association rejected as “inadmissible”. But the first two were approved. On the one hand, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Klaus Brüggemann, is to be dismissed. On the other hand, the executive authority of the entire presidency around club boss Kay Bernstein is doubted. However, it is very unlikely that the officials will actually be voted out of office, because the hurdle is high: at least 75 percent of the members present would have to vote for it.
Audio: rbb24 Inforadio | 05/11/2023 | Dennis Wiese
The applicant justified his request with the fact that the by-elections held last June were effective but incomplete because they had been canceled prematurely after the Presidium had reached seven members.
Actually, the current statutes of the association provide for a presidium of nine members, but a by-election should only take place when the number falls below seven. Hertha therefore described the member’s justification for the application as “legally incorrect”. In addition, President Kay Bernstein is aiming for a change in the statutes, according to which the Executive Committee can consist of at least seven and a maximum of nine members in the future. This will also be voted on on Sunday.
What are the consequences of Pering’s resignation for the MV?
Even if the motions to vote out are rejected and the desire to change the association’s statutes is approved, the Executive Committee has had one member too few since this week. Ingmar Pering surprisingly announced his resignation on Thursday because he felt his voice in the club was no longer sufficient.
Hertha reacted disappointed and added another item to the agenda for Sunday at short notice. Together with the members, it should be decided when there should be a by-election of the missing seventh member of the Executive Committee. The convening of an extraordinary general meeting in the near future is probably the most likely. It would also be conceivable to wait until the next ordinary general meeting. According to the statutes, this must take place between October 1st and November 30th.
It will then also be interesting to know whether only a seventh member should be elected, or whether the Presidency will be increased to nine people again. The smaller the body would be, the more power President Bernstein would have in the association.
