KFC Uerdingen are still celebrating. But there’s a good chance that the hangover will come sooner than expected. A commentary.

First of all, congratulations to the KFC Uerdingen team. Because they deserve to be honored, even if they didn’t finish top of the table in the Oberliga Niederrhein.

Anyone who manages to turn things around and get promoted after such a poor start to the season can celebrate and call themselves a deserving promoted team. After all, we must not forget the circumstances under which this sporting achievement came about.

Money was often transferred late, behind the scenes there was and still is sheer chaos. To suppress all that – respect.

Now one thing is certain: KFC Uerdingen will return to the fourth tier in the new season. How long is written in the stars. Weeks ago, it was announced that the budget for the Oberliga would be virtually the same as the budget available in the Regionalliga.

And there is also a big question mark over this money. In the end, donations, some sponsors and the big crowd against Schonnebeck helped to close the gap in the short term

But KFC can’t always live from hand to mouth. It needs structures, plans and people who implement them in the interests of the club.

None of that exists. But there are problems, and not too few of them. A short list. Former coach Marcus John is still under contract and his salary is said to have risen after promotion. The team must be paid a promotion bonus. Contracts have been extended on better terms as a result of promotion. There is a coach and a sporting director, but they are not expected to work.

They were hired by the Kurz board, which has already left. However, the club will probably still be stuck with the costs. In addition, Uerdingen’s image has suffered so much in recent months that numerous sponsors have already declared that they will no longer be on board for the new season. Another six-figure sum missing.

The big question is how an effective squad can be put together under these circumstances. Promotion coach Levan Kenia, who is about to leave, said a sentence that should give pause for thought. “But the team they want to build here – unfortunately it’s not for me.”

The ex-professional also suspects that KFC could hardly be competitive. That is, if it survives the season financially at all.

Because even recently, the only motto was hope. It won’t work forever. One can only hope that Uerdingen will take a path, even if it leads back to the Oberliga, that does not result in further bankruptcies. Because the loyal supporters don’t deserve that and the competition doesn’t deserve that.

The hope dies last that people will take responsibility at KFC who know how to run a soccer club