Two clubs from the Oberliga Westfalen have announced departures: Sportfreunde Lotte and Sportfreunde Siegen.

With Albin Thaqi and Leon Gino Schmidt, Sportfreunde Lotte have already announced two top-class winter reinforcements. In the meantime, the leaders of the Oberliga Westfalen have also announced two departures.

After central defender Niklas Kiene, Philipp Schmidt will no longer be playing at the Autobahnkreuz. The 20-year-old left-back came to Lotte in the summer from TuS Bersenbrück in the Oberliga Niedersachsen.

However, he was unable to assert himself and only made one appearance – after coming on as a substitute in the 6-0 win over FC Brünninghausen on matchday nine. Now Schmidt is saying goodbye again. It is not yet known where he will play in the future.

While coach Fabian Lübbers’ team are unlikely to be distracted from their promotion course towards the regional league by this departure alone, there are also squad changes in the lower table region: namely at Sportfreunde Siegen.

They say goodbye to Andreas Busik. “Andreas has approached us with the wish to end the contractual relationship with immediate effect for professional and private reasons,” explains Frank Weber, deputy chairman of the club. “We naturally regret this very much, but we fully understand and have therefore complied with his request.”

The 23-year-old Busik played for Siegen as a youth player and has been part of the senior team for the past five years. He played 90 games for the Leimbachtalers (three goals). The midfielder has appeared in eleven matches this season. “Many thanks for your commitment in the red and white kit and all the best for your professional future, dear Andreas! You are always welcome at our Leimbach Stadium,” said the club, bidding the player farewell.

Busik is the second winter departure after Maximilian Kraft (TSV Weißtal). André Dej (TuS Bövinghausen) and Georgios Mavroudis (SG Finnentrop/Bamenohl) joined as new reinforcements