By Paul Gorgas
The election campaign is on the home stretch! On Sunday, the Hertha members will decide on a new club leadership at the extraordinary general meeting in the CityCube on the exhibition grounds (11 a.m.).
In conversation with Hertha fan and streamer “Feliecio” on the online platform “Twitch”, competitor Frank Steffel (56) spoke about his candidacy on Wednesday evening – and told what he already knew at the beginning of the election campaign after the first talks with club connoisseurs noticed.
Steffel: “I imagined it would be difficult, but I didn’t expect that there would be so many injuries and coming to terms with the past. I’ve never experienced that in a sports club. (…) At Hertha it is striking how many people talk badly about each other. We urgently need to change that.”
The entrepreneur and CDU politician explained how he wants to promote this cultural change: “I believe that you can set an example at the top and I’m more confident every day that I can do it.”
Steffel also commented on the investor Lars Windhorst (45), who with his Tennor Group had acquired around 65 percent of the shares in Hertha BSC GmbH & Co. KGaA for 374 million euros since 2019: “This is essentially a question of communication. I’m sure that with Lars Windhorst you can do it properly.”
Steffel continues: “I would not have sold two thirds, even if I didn’t know the general conditions. I would have broken up at 49 percent. That would have been more credible because then it would have been clear to everyone that the 50+1 rule applies. That’s how you always have to explain it. (…) I will try to ensure that this is a reasonable cooperation in the interests of the association.
Steffel also renewed his proposal to candidate competitor Kay Bernstein (41) for a cooperation – should Bernstein give up his application for the presidency.
Former Ultra Kay Bernstein would like to become the new Hertha President Photo: dpa
Steffel: “I bring strengths and opportunities that he doesn’t have, and he brings things and a part of the fans with me that I might not even be able to reach because I lack credibility. (…) I will work on it until Saturday night.”
On Sunday at the latest it will become clear whether Steffel has been able to convince his competitors – or whether it will end in a duel for the presidential post.
