This is how Zwickau’s manager and board explain the dismissals

At the beginning of the week, FSV Zwickau released coach Joe Enochs and managing director Toni Wachsmuth. The club has very specific demands on the new coach.

Last Monday, FSV Zwickau decided to suspend its coach Joe Enochs and sporting director Toni Wachsmuth after the preceding 1:1 in the home match against SV Meppen. Board spokesman Frank Fischer and managing director Marvin Klotzkowsky commented on the situation before the match in Duisburg.

It is not necessarily customary for the sports director to go along with the coach. But for Fischer it was clear that the sporting impulses do not only come from the coach. “Quite simply, when we part ways with our head coach, it gives the impression that Joe Enochs is the only one who bears the burden for what the sporting situation at FSV Zwickau looks like. That is not the case. We have always talked about the fact that there is a sporting management. Just like the coach, the sports director is also part of that. That is the background for this measure.”

The situation had already been analysed after the 1:3 defeat at 1860 Munich, as managing director Kotzlowsky explained. There, those responsible came to the conclusion that it would be too easy to put all the blame on the coach. “That’s exactly why we came to say that when we make a decision, we want to analyse the whole framework. That’s how we came to the decision that it makes sense to suspend both of them.” That decision, he said, was unanimous.

Fischer clearly denied that Joe Enochs had been offered the position of sporting director, as was rumoured in the media. “That is nonsense.” He said he had sat down with the coach in December. “I offered him in a personal conversation, very trustingly and very openly to become managing director of sport.” However, he said, this was with a decision deadline of 28 February and on condition that there were successes for FSV by then. These failed to materialise.

Reaction of Enochs “completely normal “

Enochs’ reaction was nevertheless understandable. “It’s completely normal. When you get your baby taken away from your point of view of things, of course you’re hurt and disappointed.” The board spokesman added: “We are very grateful that we had them on our side. Otherwise we probably wouldn’t be where we are now. We probably wouldn’t be in the league anymore either.”

Whether the post of sports director will be filled is questionable for the time being, he said. The situation is different with the coaching post. The current co-trainer Robin Lenk will only take over the position on an interim basis. “We have exactly 14 days to react in accordance with the DFB statutes. We are in exchange and in talks. I think we will be able to present the new coach next week. Whether that will already be the case next Saturday, that there will be changes here or not, we will decide when the time comes.”

In any case, it is clear that the existing coaching team will be involved. That is not the only requirement for the new coach. “We need someone there who can motivate the team. We need the pedagogue, we need the sporting expert, we need the team player. Ideally, we also need someone who perhaps even knows us, someone who also has third-league experience or something similar. Someone who can perhaps ideally fight relegation, who brings passion with him. “