For months, there have been rumors of a Schalke opposition surrounding Clemens Tönnies. Now the former club boss is speaking out – in clear terms.

Former Supervisory Board Chairman Clemens Tönnies has once again clearly criticized the current club management of second-division soccer club Schalke 04, but rejected speculation about his own plans to overthrow the club. He is “not aware of any so-called opposition group”, Tönnies told the Funke Mediengruppe on Tuesday. He himself will “no longer hold any official office at Schalke”.

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Because Schalke is threatened with relegation to the 3rd division and the club is also in financial difficulties, the name Tönnies had recently been traded as a possible driving force for an opposition group. However, the billionaire from Rheda-Wiedenbrück can at least imagine getting involved behind the scenes: “If the board and supervisory board have realized that a change of course is needed, I am always on hand with help and advice. I would use my network to find a good team that can help.”

In Tönnies’ view, this means that the current management needs to be replaced. “Changes are needed. The committees and offices need to be filled with experts from business and sport with a broad network. It can’t go on like this. The catastrophic development of the past three years brings tears to the eyes of every Schalke fan,” he said.

Tönnies was the strong man at Schalke from 2001 to 2020 before he resigned under massive public pressure