The chairman of the board of VfL Bochum wants his club to continue growing. Hans-Peter Villis also comments on a possible contract extension with coach Thomas Letsch.

Bochum’s CEO Hans-Peter Villis believes VfL Bochum are well on the way to establishing themselves permanently in the elite league of German football ahead of their third Bundesliga season in a row. “We notice with potential new signings, player advisors and sponsors that we are more established. VfL Bochum is no longer a grey mouse. We are now part of the Bundesliga again, a valued club,” Villis told the “WAZ”.

However, the 65-year-old also added: “But it should be clear: We have good times now, in good weather everyone can sail. Other times can come again.”

The Ruhr club wants to catch up with certain rivals and sees itself well equipped to do so. “Besides Augsburg and Mainz, Bremen is also one of them. Union Berlin is far away now, Stuttgart probably too. We want to get into the midfield,” Villis said, explaining, “If we aim for a turnover of around 100 million next season with a squad budget of 40 to 45 million euros, then we can set ourselves up quite differently than we did in the first and second year after promotion. We have to use this basis.”

VfL had returned to the Bundesliga in 2021 after eleven years. In the first season, they managed to stay in the league with promotion coach Thomas Reis. Last season, coach Thomas Letsch’s team saved itself on the last matchday. As far as a contract extension with the 54-year-old, whose contract expires in the summer of 2024, is concerned, Villis sees no rush. “Thomas Letsch still has a contract, everything else is developing. We are not putting ourselves under any pressure. But at some point, of course, it will become an issue,” he said.