The management of FC Schalke, which has been in crisis for years, has to listen to a lot of criticism at the general meeting. Those responsible classify the club's situation in drastic terms. The sporting area is a “huge construction site”. A club legend is made a scapegoat.
At the general meeting of FC Schalke 04, those responsible provided an insight into the now dramatic situation of the second division football club. “We were de facto bankrupt, one step away from bankruptcy and the regional league,” explained Axel Hefer, chairman of the supervisory board, in front of around 7,000 members present in the Schalke Arena. Hefer was referring to the period shortly after the engagement of then CEO Bernd Schröder, who started at the traditional club on January 1, 2022.
Hefer reiterated on Saturday that there was no alternative to the austerity measures taken by those responsible. The sponsorship income is around ten million euros lower than in the first year of the second division, “mainly because we are foregoing money from Russia”. Schalke had terminated a high-dollar contract with the Russian state-owned company Gazprom after the attack on Ukraine.
In this context, CFO Christina Rühl-Hamers also spoke about the drastically reduced income from TV money. Schalke has TV money of around 19 million euros in the current season, compared to 90 million euros in the Bundesliga five years ago.
“The sporting area is a huge construction site,” said Hefer, referring to the sporting situation of Schalke, who are currently in 14th place in the second division. Despite criticism, the chairman of the supervisory board ruled out his own departure several times: “I can’t take my hat off and leave. My family will never leave the club.”
Cooperative against mountain of debt
The planned support cooperative for the heavily indebted Schalke team is scheduled to start in January. From the new year onwards, the approximately 190,000 members of the second division club will be able to purchase shares in the Veltins Arena for 250 euros each. Schalke's goal is to build up 50 million euros in equity in the coming years. “Then the world will look different at Schalke,” said CEO Matthias Tillmann.
Schalke is currently still 162 million euros in debt. In 2023 alone, the club had to pay 16 million euros in repayment and interest. “This is an average second division squad. That means we are currently paying a squad extra,” said Supervisory Board Chairman Hefer. The planned proceeds from the sale of shares in the stadium to club members and companies will primarily be used to pay off debts.
At the emotional meeting there were some wild accusations, especially against Hefer and CEO Matthias Tillmann. “I don’t know how you got your job. Mr. Tillmann, live up to your responsibility and resign,” said one of the many members who took the opportunity to criticize the club leadership during the three-hour discussion. “No competence on the board of directors and supervisory board” was the tenor of many speakers.
The event lasted a total of eight hours. With temperatures around eight degrees, numerous supporters left the arena before the end.
Marc Wilmots as a scapegoat
Hefer, as event manager, and Tillmann mostly commented objectively and calmly. “I understand the criticism and constantly question myself,” said Tillmann, who has only been in office since the beginning of the year and was brought to Schalke by Hefer, his former colleague on the board of the hotel comparison portal Trivago.
The general meeting voted out the previous deputy chairman of the supervisory board, Moritz Dörnemann. The 42-year-old banker stood for re-election to the committee, but did not receive enough votes. Ender Ulupinar, who once played for the Schalke reserve team, is new to the supervisory board. Sven Kirstein was confirmed in his supervisory board position.
For the current sporting situation – the club must be ranked 14th in the table. fearing relegation to the third division – CEO Tillmann made the fired sports director Marc Wilmots in particular a scapegoat. “Marc Wilmots was and remains a legend as a player. “It didn’t work in management,” said Tillmann.
Hefer also admitted that Wilmot's position as athletic director was a mistake. The Belgian former professional was fired in September after just nine months in office. “We are performing below what the budget should allow,” said Tillmann and made a clear announcement to the team and coach Kees van Wonderen who were not present: “The next five games until the winter break are very important. The coach knows that, the team knows that.”
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