Erdinger football merger is on ice

SpVgg and FCE admit problems that are difficult to solve, but assure: The talks continue.

Erding - Has the Erdinger football merger burst? There will be no joint teams between FC Erding and SpVgg Altenerding in the coming season, the two clubs report. However, department head Andreas Heilmaier says: "We don't lose sight of the project because we are convinced of it." FC Erding informed its members in a letter that the cooperation had been postponed. There are still too many issues to be resolved. Some are rather low hurdles for Heilmaier and his Erdinger colleague Mathias Köppen, while others are much more difficult to solve. An overview of the possible problems:

The resistance of the club members

After the first publications in the home newspaper, there had been a number of critical voices and hearty letters to the editor. Members of both clubs had threatened to leave the club immediately if there was a merger. Heilmaier expressed understanding that especially older members, who are deeply rooted in the SpVgg, did not want to do anything with the arch-rival and were afraid for the name. “Due to the report in the home newspaper, which was somewhat premature for us, we were not able to inform the members about the cooperation and the associated advantages, so that the impression was given that we had only bowed to Erdinger's request , If our motives had been known, then I think we could have taken the understandable fears and concerns from long-standing members, ”Heilmaier states. But there were also many voices that find the way well, says the SpVgg boss. It was pleasing for him that "the active people accepted our project and even want to work on this project themselves". They hoped for an increase in quantity and quality through the cooperation, which justifiably gave rise to hope that they could play in other classes again. Heilmaier: “We have a lot of loyal players who like it very much with us and who like to stay with us. But because of their talent, they just want to play in higher leagues. I hope that you bring some patience. ”Heilmaier knows:“ Loyalty to clubs is no longer as important as it used to be. The footballers choose the best options. And there are clubs in Erding and the surrounding area that play in leagues that we cannot offer at the moment. "Köppen also felt little resistance, but also not the great euphoria:" It was rather quietly received by us. Our members are neutral towards a merger. "

The future club name

SpVgg Erding, FC Altenerding or completely different? Not the problem. Heilmaier: "The naming was not decisive for the postponement of the cooperation."

Fusion or connection to the SpVgg

The Erdinger officials wanted the cooperation in the form of a classic merger to go hand in hand with the founding of a new association, "although this step was also conceivable in the medium term," explains Heilmaier. For a merger in a few years, however, he could not make a firm commitment, because it is not only the footballers who decide at SpVgg, but the delegates of all sectors. Heilmaier: “The statutes offer every department the opportunity to leave the SpVgg, but this step requires the approval of at least 75 percent of all delegates. For your understanding: Depending on the number of members, each division sends a certain number of delegates to the annual general meeting. The soccer players have ten votes, for example the gymnastics department with its 900 members has even more. The result of the vote would therefore not be predictable. "Of course, individual members could leave the SpVgg and set up their own club," says Heilmaier, but that would entail considerable risks for the SpVgg football department. For example:

Who owns the Sempt Pub?

"We financed the clubhouse ourselves, but it is legally owned by the SpVgg," Heilmaier explains. "So if we do not receive the approval, we cannot transfer it to a new club, so that we would then be without a clubhouse, without assets, and ultimately without members." This risk is simply too high. One could then legally check whether the footballers can insist on the assets they have generated. But the result was at best open - especially since the municipal and state subsidies for the construction had gone to the entire association at the time. Instead of taking legal action, Heilmaier prefers a solution through talks, because the clubhouse is used “by 80 or 90 percent” by the footballers. "The main club still has an office in there, and the handball players hold their departmental meetings," says Heilmaier. There was nothing more. It is now a matter of talking to the delegates. And that takes time.

Too many risks for FC Erding

"It was originally planned that in the first step we would move to Altenerding with our members and also take part in the game operation under the roof of the SpVgg," says Köppen. This was also communicated to the members in this way, but with the prospect that a classic merger would be considered in a few years. However, because the SpVgg cannot currently guarantee this second step, it is difficult "to convince our members of the first step - the change of members to Altenerding - since we would of course also take great risks." If the merger does not come about in the medium term and Erdinger registers again under the umbrella of the TSV to play, one would have to start in the C-Class. "In this case, the SpVgg was even prepared to hand over the division of the second team to us, but according to the Bavarian Football Association, such an agreement cannot be implemented in this way," reports Erding's soccer director.

The further cooperation

"We will continue to hold talks and try to overcome these hurdles step by step, perhaps to be able to take this step in the next few years," says the joint press release. But will the current problems actually diminish if you leave the country for a few years? For Köppen "more time is already a factor, because then we can create a concept that convinces the members". In addition, the SpVgg would also have the 100th anniversary of the cheek. Heilmaier is already feeling a “very close rapprochement. The reservations are largely eliminated. We achieved this in the 20 to 30 discussions that we have had in the meantime. ”The fear expressed by members that the FCE would like to transfer its problems to the SpVgg due to a lack of volunteers has not been confirmed. “The Erdinger people are incredibly committed,” he says, explicitly naming Lothar Feuser and Kurt Müller. However, Köppen already admits “that volunteering fell asleep with us. Too few want to help. ”But he already hopes that the recent efforts will jerk the club. "My impression is that some have now pricked up their ears and are saying: 'Hey, something is moving in the club.'"

The current plans

In the short term, both clubs are independently planning for the new season, which should be easier for the SpVgg, as youth work is solid and the most successful in the district. According to Köppen, FC Erding has two options for the youth: "Either we open our own teams, or we join the JFG Sempt Erding again." There are still discussions to be done. But will the JFG take up the prodigal son, who ultimately plans to exit in the medium term? Chairman Christoph Greckl leaves it open: “We are still advising about it.” FC Erding is already there with the men. According to Köppen, it has already been agreed with the two new coaches Andi Ostermair and Ludwig Scheidl that they will also have the say in the 2020/21 season - "no matter in which class we play". In addition, FC Erding has six new signings with which the penultimate of the district league wants to keep the class: Eichenrieder Marc Uscharewitz Marc and Alexander Krause, Ales Hujdanovic, Fatih Budakoglu, Maxi Ostermair, Dazian Cocea and Shkeljzen Iseni.