Numerous problems: How RWE is fighting relegation

There are rumblings at third division club Rot-Weiss Essen. The RWE captain is gone, goalkeeper Jakob Golz is being courted and there are problems with the finances.

In exactly one week’s time, the serious side of life begins again for the players of third-division soccer club Rot-Weiss Essen. On June 26, coach Christoph Dabrowski invites the players to a warm-up.

It shouldn’t be too crowded on the training pitch, as Essen have only been able to present four external additions so far. On the other hand, there have already been ten departures, including the key players Felix Götze, Vinko Sapina, Cedric Harenbrock and Marvin Obuz.

Many fans of the traditional club are wondering why RWE is not becoming more active on the transfer market. Our RWE experts Krystian Wozniak and Martin Herms provide an answer. Together with presenter Kira Alex, they discuss the current developments at Hafenstraße in a special episode of our video talk “vonne Hafenstraße”.

RWE’s problem is obvious: as is so often the case, they don’t have the money to keep up with the competition in the race for the players they want. The latest example: the planned return of winger Kai Pröger (32) is in danger of falling through. “I expect Rot-Weiss Essen to receive a rejection from the player’s side by Thursday at the latest,” reveals Wozniak.

“First of all: I will not comment on budget issues in public. We discuss these issues internally. What is certain is that we are approaching the issues in a commercially serious manner,” said RWE CEO Alexander Rang when asked by this editorial team.

RWE sell-off: Jakob Golz could also leave

The RWE squad planners still don’t know which shelf they can reach into when it comes to transfers. This is wasting valuable time in the race for new players. There is also the threat of goalkeeper Jakob Golz leaving. The sell-off of players could be even more severe. “The way Rot-Weiss Essen is currently presenting itself is amateurish. With the current squad, it’s only against relegation in the coming season,” emphasizes RWE reporter Martin Herms.