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Alexander Jobst
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RHR-FOTO / imago images / RHR-Foto
He was a board member at FC Schalke 04 for ten years, but Alexander Jobst will leave the club at the end of the season.
This was announced by the likely relegated from the Bundesliga after the supervisory board complied with the 47-year-old's request.
The reason for the decisions were the "anonymous hostility up to threats" to which he and his family had been exposed for some time, the statement said.
"I go with a very, very heavy heart and have struggled with this decision for a long time," Jobst said in it.
With all understanding for anger, frustration and also emotionally violent expressions, a red line had been crossed for him.
The Supervisory Board regretted the decision, but also showed understanding.
Jobst, a graduate sports economist and previously worked for Real Madrid and the world association Fifa, had meanwhile increased the annual marketing revenues at FC Schalke to over 90 million euros and, despite the impending relegation, recently extended the contracts with the main sponsor Gazprom and the stadium sponsor Veltins.
But for many fans he was a stimulating figure who repeatedly referred to the highly emotional club as a "product" in interviews.
The increasing commercialization of the traditional club with numerous activities in China repelled many supporters, several times in the past few months Jobst was criticized as "part of the problem" on ultras banners on the club's premises and asked to resign.
"I have received text messages and e-mails in which I was informed that they knew which school my children are going to and whether I am sure that they will come home," said Jobst in a digital discussion with members of the association in February : "Or that the next general meeting is coming and that is why I should start walking."
"I hand over my area of responsibility in first-class condition"
Jobst has been working on the Schalke board since 2011 and is responsible for marketing, sales and organization.
The course for the future has also been set in the 2nd league, which is likely to face the bottom of the table with seven remaining game days, 13 points behind on rank 16.
»We created a foundation in the marketing revenues for the second division at an early stage in a way that most clubs in the first division do not have.
I'll hand over my responsibilities in prime condition, ”he said.
Schalke 04 is unique and has the strength to be successful again in terms of sport.
Jobst's departure is the fourth from the Schalke management level within a year.
Before him, CFO Peter Peters and supervisory board chairman Clemens Tönnies had left the club, and Schalke had separated from sports director Jochen Schneider at the end of February.
Schalke is facing a change under extremely critical conditions: After a minus of 52 million euros in the 2020 financial year, the traditional club is in debt with 217 million euros and with negative equity of more than 70 million euros in dire straits, the expensive team must for the second League are radically rebuilt - the power vacuum at the top of the club comes at an inopportune time.
mon / dpa / sid
