Preußen Münster Focuses on Survival, Postpones Player Farewells

MÜNSTER, Germany –⁢ Preußen Münster, currently competing‍ in the second tier of German football, will forgo the conventional farewell ceremony for departing players during their⁢ final home game of ​the season ⁢against Hertha Berlin on​ Friday. The match, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. local time and broadcast on ⁤Sky, is expected to be played before a sold-out crowd⁤ of 12,422.

Survival Takes Priority

The club’s decision stems from their ongoing battle against relegation. With two games remaining – against Hertha and a subsequent match against SSV Ulm – Münster has ⁣a chance to secure direct qualification and remain ‍in the ⁣league. They could also potentially land in⁣ the relegation playoff.

Sporting Director ole Kittner, 37, stated that the club’s sole focus is on‍ achieving their ​sporting goals. “All ‍negotiations and discussions beyond that are postponed until we have hopefully achieved our sporting goal,” Kittner said.

Future Planning on Hold

This postponement affects not only departing players but also potential new signings. ⁤Planning for the next⁤ season​ will commence in earnest in early June, with the club’s financial capabilities heavily dependent ⁢on their league status.

Expiring Contracts

As of June 30, several key players’ contracts ⁣are set to expire,⁢ including captain Marc Lorenz, 36; Lukas Frenkert, 24; Dominik Schad, 28; Luca Bazzoli, 24; Sebastian⁤ Mrowca, ⁤31; Daniel Kyerewaa, 23; Florian Pick, 29; and Holmbert “Berti” Fridjonsson, 32.

Additionally, loan players Andras Nemeth, 22, and‌ David⁣ Kinsombi, 29, are scheduled to return⁣ to their parent clubs, Hamburger SV and SC Paderborn, respectively, on⁤ July 1.

Players⁢ Under Contract

Fourteen other players are currently contracted with Preußen Münster until 2026, including Jorrit hendrix, 30; Simon ⁢Scherder, 32; Jano ter ⁣Horst, 22; Rico Preißinger, 28; Mikkel Kirkeskov, 33; Joshua Mees, 29; Charalambis “Babis” Makridis, 28; Etienne Amenyido, 27; Morten Behrens, 28; Torge Paetow, 29; Luca Bolay, ‌22; ​yassine‌ Bouchama, 27; Thorben Deters, 29; Malik “Batman” ⁤Batmaz, 25; and Marian​ kirsch, 21. However, some⁢ of these contracts may include ⁤clauses related to relegation.

Niko Koulis, 26, and goalkeeper Johannes “Jojo”⁢ Schenk, 22, are under contract in Münster until⁣ 2027. Schenk, valued at €1 million according to transfermarkt.de, has attracted interest from​ other clubs due‍ to his ⁣strong ​performances. His departure would likely generate a significant transfer fee ‍for the club should they be relegated.

Coaching Situation Uncertain

The future⁢ of the coaching position is also uncertain. Following the dismissal of head coach Sascha Hildmann, 53, ⁤and assistant coach louis Cordes, 32, the club will need ‌to make a careful selection of their⁢ successors.

The current interim trio of Kieran Schulze-Marmeling, ‌35, Sören Weinfurtner, 46, and Christian Pander, 41, will ⁣not continue in their roles, even if they ‍successfully steer the team⁤ to ⁣safety, due to a⁤ lack of ⁤necessary coaching licenses.

Podcast Discussion

The latest episode of the “Preußen Privat” podcast features a discussion about the​ club’s fight for ‌survival. Christian Bode, a sponsor and fan, ⁢Andre Gerritzen, son of Preußen legend Felix “Fiffi” Gerritzen, and coach Winfried ‍Schäfer share their perspectives on the‍ situation. The podcast is available at www.preussenprivat.de and on‌ various podcast platforms,including spotify.