Despite the spin-off of the professional department, VfL Bochum has not yet presented an investor. CEO Hans-Peter Villis explains the reasons.

At the annual general meeting in the fall of 2017, the members of VfL Bochum voted to spin off the professional department. More than six years later, an investor has yet to be presented. Hans-Peter Villis, the CEO of VfL Bochum, explained why in an interview with the WAZ newspaper.

“We were often accused of spinning off the club and not yet having any results,” said the 65-year-old, referring to the ‘complexity of the decision’. According to Villis, there are interested parties. But those in charge at VfL do not want to put themselves under pressure. ‘It has to be a 100 percent match.’ Further talks will be held until the right investor is found.

And what should this investor stand for? “He has to understand the DNA of VfL, ideally he has to have it himself. He has to be enthusiastic about Bochum football, he has to know our philosophy. We want an investor who lives and breathes VfL Bochum, who supports us strategically and financially. We don’t need someone who wants to be in charge,” explained Villis.

One thing is clear: even without an investor, VfL Bochum’s sporting development has taken a positive turn. At the time of the vote on the spin-off, VfL was in the bottom half of the 2nd Bundesliga table. The club is currently in its third Bundesliga year and, before the winter break, maneuvered itself into a good starting position for avoiding relegation.

“We are just happy to be part of this league and to be able to play there as a traditional club with our resources,” emphasized Villis. However, the involvement of an investor would offer VfL a range of new options: “It would certainly be possible to increase the squad budget, for example. That was one of the main reasons for the spin-off. We might be able to reach for a different shelf – even though we have already significantly increased the squad budget for this season. We started with twelve million euros in the year we were promoted and are now at around 40 million euros. Without an investor. We are proud of that.”