Kickers Offenbach: Challenges and hopes at the general meeting

Kickers Offenbach: Challenges and hopes at the general meeting

The general meeting of the Offenbacher Kickers took place on Monday evening in the VIP room of the stadium on Bieberer Berg. With 265 members present, the meeting marked an important moment for the association when President Joachim Wagner addressed the development of the club and the challenges of the coming season.

Wagner reported on the current squad and underlined the need to hold it together to exploit the sporting potential. Despite a confident view of the sporting future, Wagner also pointed out serious economic problems. The costs in some areas have increased by 48 percent, especially with regard to the security concept. He described the income situation as "really frightening" and "overwhelming" in the long term.

financial challenges and share sales

Joachim Wagner warned that the player budget without grants would only be 700,000 euros; At 1.5 million euros, the association would be at a competitive level, but rather in the relegation battle than on the climb. In order to counteract this, he emphasized that the budget for the coming season must be released to the same extent as in the past.

A significant decision was made during the meeting: the members agreed with a large majority to sell 4 percent of OFC GmbH, which corresponds to a revenue of 695,000 euros. This money will be invested directly in the budget of the next season to stabilize the financial foundations. The sale to strategic partners was necessary because the income from ticket sales is not sufficient to keep up with the league tip.

squad-updates and membership honors

Another point on the agenda was the contract extension with defender Jayson Breitenbach. At the same time, the members were informed about the election of Torsten Möller as the new Vice President. This management team has the task that should not be underestimated to confirm and successfully implement the strategy of the association in the coming years.

President Wagner praised the team for their performance in the last game against TSG Hoffenheim II, which ended with a 1-1, and had great pride in the approximately 3,000 fans who accompanied the team to Hoffenheim. Managing Director Christian Hock emphasized the importance of interlinking young and professional football in order to guarantee sustainable success.

In terms of the number of members, the assembly of 3,258 members reported, including 2,542 "fan memberships" and 810 active athletes. In addition, further departments such as Golf and Padel tennis were planned to diversify club life.

A special honor was given honorary representative Barbara Klein for her 40-year membership, which illustrated the tradition and commitment of the members. A balanced result for the coming season will be hoped after the financial year 23/24 ended with a shortfall of 2.2 million euros, which was compensated for by shareholders and loans.

Overall, the meeting showed that the Offenbacher Kickers want to look ahead and work on a positive development of the association despite financial challenges. These discussions and decisions are essential for the future of the club and underline the importance of the general assembly as the central organ of the club life, which gives the members the opportunity to participate in decisions and to control the board, such as Sportmember emphasized.