By Konstantin Marrach
This sentence made many fans sit up and take notice.
A paper for bondholders recently said that Hertha had set the financial targets assuming promotion to the 1st Bundesliga after a season in the 2nd Bundesliga. And that, although it is still completely unclear whether the DFL will even issue a license to the capital club and how things will continue financially and in terms of personnel. Suddenly you are stacking lower again at Hertha …
In an interview with “Deutschlandfunk”, Hertha President Kay Bernstein (42) now said: “To declare a goal now would be nonsense.”
And further: We have the licensing issue, we have the restructuring issue. We have the economic restructuring issue, we have the squad change.” Only when the transfer phase has been completed and it is known which team will be on the pitch next season can the goal of re-promotion be realistically formulated.
In the interview, Bernstein also explains that they are certain that they have the necessary documents for the second division license and that they can prove their ability to act and their liquidity. “We say we’ll get the license and start in the second division,” said the president.
Two days ago, Hertha managing director Thomas Herrich (59) said on Hertha TV that “as of now” not all demands have been met …
The fact is: Tuesday (June 7th) the capital club must meet the requirements of the DFL. Otherwise there is a risk of license withdrawal and a crash in the regional league.
In the interview, Kay Bernstein also talks about the 375 million euros from ex-investor Lars Windhorst. These were “burned”. “We simply haven’t managed well in recent years, and we’ve spent more money than we’ve taken in,” said the President.
But Bernstein does not only see the blame for the financial chaos at Hertha! “The football system is not designed to operate sustainably, but it is always the idea of maximum sporting success on the verge of economic insolvency,” he says. “And that’s why we’re in need of restructuring, because you’ve been through it so excessively.”
His demand: “We have to fundamentally question this system.” Salary limits for players have to be discussed, says Bernstein. And he also wishes that officials would live up to their responsibilities and “not chase success by hook or by crook”.
Kay Bernstein finds positive words for the fans. Despite the economic and sporting downturn in recent months, “absurdly” a record number of viewers has been recorded and almost 5000 new members have been won.