Regionalliga West relegated team Rot Weiss Ahlen is restructuring its personnel. Orhan Özkara is no longer head of sport and will take on a new role at the club.

A shake-up at Rot Weiss Ahlen: The relegated Regionalliga West side will start the 2024/2025 Oberliga Westfalen season with a new head of sport.

Coach Björn Joppe and Luka Tankulic will take over the sporting management of the first team together with immediate effect. Tankulic, previously captain of Ahlen, will also act as playing assistant coach and has signed a contract for the next three years until June 30, 2027.

Dennis Kocker, member of the board at Rot Weiss Ahlen, commented on the contract extension of the 177-time third division professional Tankulic: “We are very proud that we have been able to tie Luka Tankulic to our club for another three years. His skills and commitment are invaluable to us. With Björn and Luka, we will successfully master the sporting challenges of the coming years and further develop our team.”

Orhan Özkara, previously Head of Sport at Ahlen, will take over the sporting management of the youth sector for the new season. He succeeds Arndt Kempel, who stepped down this season.

Özkara will also coach the Ahlen U19 Westfalenliga team, replacing Hasan Ugur.

“We would like to thank Hasan Ugur for his outstanding work, especially for the successful retention in the Westfalenliga this season. We would also like to thank Arndt Kempel for his many years of support and his tireless efforts in the youth sector,” said an Ahlen press release.

The board said: “We are convinced that this restructuring of the sporting management will open up new opportunities for our club and help us to achieve our sporting goals. With Luka Tankulic, Björn Joppe and Orhan Özkara, we have a strong team that will drive the development of our players and the success of our club with experience and passion. “