Coach and sports director Ernst Middendorp apparently threw in the towel after only three season games at third division relegated SV Meppen. There is no official confirmation from the Emsland club yet.
The decisive factor for the 64-year-old’s declaration of resignation was probably the sobering 1: 2 (0: 1) on Wednesday evening at SSV Jeddeloh II in the football regional league north. The decisive goal came in the third minute of added time. It was already the second defeat in the third game. Meppen only won the start of the season against SV Drochtersen/Assel.
“I told the team that I’m not cut out to make amateurs work. Basically, we don’t manage to act professionally. It’s not my world. I don’t work 15 hours a day to end up doing anything to animate. I’m not an animator,” said Middendorp.
“Silly, unprofessional and amateurish”
In his dual function as coach and sporting director of the Emsländer, Middendorp is also largely responsible for putting together the squad he criticized. After the “XXL upheaval” (O-Ton Middendorp) in the summer, the timing of the resignation is surprising, but the team behaved “silly, unprofessional and amateurish”, according to the veteran coach.
Born in Emsland, he coached Arminia Bielefeld three times in his career and led the club from the regional league to the Bundesliga in the 1990s. After stints in South Africa, China and Thailand, among others, he took over SV Meppen in March, but was unable to prevent relegation from the 3rd division despite a strong final spurt.
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NDR 1 Lower Saxony | Regional Osnabrueck | 08/17/2023 | 6:30 a.m
