Those responsible at SpVgg Bayreuth will also have to work over the holidays, because fresh money is needed by the end of the year.

SpVgg Bayreuth, promoted to the 3rd league, is spending the winter in last place. But the gap between them and the save shore is manageable, as they are only three points away from 16th place, the first place not to be relegated.

However, not all of those in charge will probably have a happy holiday, because there is a lot of work to be done. As reported by the “Kurier”, Bayreuth has to prove almost one million euros by the end of the year in the form of an increase in share capital.

This is the sum that the DFB demands from all third division clubs, usually in the summer, but promoted clubs have half a year longer to raise this sum. According to a report in the Kurier, Bayreuth’s share capital should have amounted to 25,000 euros in the summer, and there is a shortfall of 975,000 euros, which they have to prove at the end of the year.

Bayreuth’s marketing director Jörg Schmalfuß emphasised to the Kurier: “I’m pretty confident that we’ll get this done on time. Ultimately, this is a formal, but until then also an enormously challenging act that we have been working on since we applied for the licence. So actually this issue has been on our minds since February.”

A notary’s appointment has already been arranged, Schmalfuß explains: “Then all the people – I’ll call them the facilitators – have to show up and sign.

If this works out, the Bayreuth team hopes to get some money to strengthen the squad. If that doesn’t work out, the club could face a fine or, in the worst case, even a points deduction.

In sporting terms, things continue for Bayreuth after the winter break with a home match against BVB’s U23 (Sunday, 15 January, 2 p.m.).