ÖFB: Terminations of Neuhold and Hollerer Withdrawn
The Austrian Football Association (ÖFB) has withdrawn the terminations of its two operational heads. Both Secretary General Thomas Hollerer and Managing Director Bernhard Neuhold will remain in their positions, as was announced after the board meeting on Friday in Vienna. ÖFB President Wolfgang Bartosch justified this approach by stating that the association must remain capable of action, especially with regard to the structural reform to be fixed in the coming weeks.
Bartosch's predecessor Klaus Mitterdorfer had terminated the quarrelling Hollerer and Neuhold by majority board decision in the autumn. The notice period would have run until May 31. The general meeting is scheduled for May 18 in Bregenz, during which the structural reform is to be decided and a new association head is to be inaugurated.
Majority Present
Bartosch reported on Friday of a "very constructive meeting, which was characterized by mutual appreciation". The terminations were withdrawn by a majority decision, and silence was agreed upon regarding the voting behavior of the individual board members.
In the dispute between Neuhold - Hollerer, it's back to square one. The contracts of the duo are revived and are indefinite as before the original termination. "The framework conditions have changed because the position of the president has also become vacant. We are in a transition phase, so now it is important to find a new president (note: who will probably be called the chairman of the supervisory board after the structural reform) and to focus on the structural reform. In this phase, it is important that the ÖFB has its full functionality," explained Bartosch, who himself only wants to head the association until the upcoming general meeting.
Election Committee Seeks ÖFB Head
Starting from today, the election committee, which was appointed on Friday and is chaired by the Carinthian state chief Martin Mutz, is looking for his successor. Josef Geisler from Tyrol acts as his deputy. The possibility of agreeing on a new ÖFB boss in the next two months was described by Bartosch as a "quite realistic schedule". Bartosch's successor, even if not officially appointed yet, should then play a leading role in the appointment of a new CEO. His commitment could also start after May 18th.
The originally envisaged variant of an operational ÖFB leadership with a CEO and two managing directors below will probably not come. A constellation with a CEO and a deputy, as preferred by Bartosch, seems more likely.
Change in the third highest performance level?
Apart from the Hollerer-Neuhold topic, other agenda items were also on the agenda at the approximately three and a half hour meeting. Sebastian Prödl (Sporting Director Youth), Peter Perchtold (U21 Team Manager) and Alexander Schriebl (Women's Team Manager) presented themselves to the highest ÖFB body, and according to Bartosch, there was a discussion about a more transparent presentation of the budget.
The format of the third highest performance level was also a topic - a change from three to four regional leagues is being considered. Vorarlberg/Tyrol, Salzburg/Upper Austria, Styria/Carinthia and Vienna/Lower Austria/Burgenland could form the leagues. However, the final word has not yet been spoken, because then the direct promotion to the 2nd league would probably be passé and there is also resistance from Tyrol and Salzburg.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.