The FC Schalke 04 general meeting also discussed the club’s U23 team. They are at the top of the regional league. Will S04 apply for a license for the 3rd league?
On Saturday, the general meeting of FC Schalke 04 took place at the Veltins Arena. But instead of seven hours, this time it only took four hours to work through all the topics. The sporting upswing has satisfied many members and silenced them. “When things are going well on the pitch and you have good news to report – and you can see that we are making progress in all areas – then the mood is naturally better,” said Supervisory Board Chairman Axel Hefer after the event. However, he added that the club is also aware of the current situation. Nevertheless: “Of course, our goal is to be promoted to the first division – the sooner, the better.”
Schalke 04 is currently in second place in the second division. S04’s U23 team is also doing well, lying in second place in the Regionalliga West, level on points with leaders Fortuna Cologne. However, there will probably be no promotion to the third division for coach Jakob Fimpel’s team, even if they achieve this on the pitch. “It’s a luxury problem for us that we are in this situation and have no worries and are not fighting against relegation in the Regionalliga West, but are at the top of the table,” said Schalke’s sporting director Frank Baumann in response to a question from a member. “The boys are doing very well. But first and foremost, it’s about individual training. We’ll have to think about the question at the beginning of the year. I believe you can train very well in the Regionalliga.”
Baumann: “Infrastructure would certainly present us with some problems.”
Baumann continued: ” When we are promoted to the 3rd league, there are of course a few other things to consider. The issue of infrastructure would certainly pose some problems for us. That’s why we’re waiting to see how the team develops in terms of its sporting performance. And then we’ll decide how to deal with the license documents, whether we actually submit a license for the 3rd league or continue on this path and continue to train the players via the regional league.”
Among other things, this would require substantial investment in the Parkstadion, where the floodlighting system is also inadequate. Schalke does not have the money for this. According to RS information, there is therefore a clear internal tendency not to apply for a license for the second team for the 3rd league.