NAfter only 24 months, the legendary referee Markus Merk at his club 1. FC Kaiserslautern is over again. The 59-year-old resigned his offices on the supervisory board and advisory board of the third division soccer club on Tuesday, thus creating a pre-Christmas surprise at the traditional Palatinate club. First the “Rheinpfalz” reported about it.
“Our common goal was to stabilize the club and create a foundation for a positive sporting development. We achieved these goals despite the corona pandemic, ”said Merk in a statement. “Today I would like to announce that for personal reasons I am giving up my voluntary work at 1. FC Kaiserslautern at the end of the year in order to be able to devote myself to other topics outside of the FCK.” The first successor for Merk on the club’s supervisory board is Carsten Crick.
It was seething in the background
In fact, during Merk’s term in office, the people of the Palatinate freed themselves from their existence-threatening situation and largely excused themselves. The “Red Devils” have also taken a step forward in terms of sport. Promotion to the second division is within reach.
Previously, in December 2019, a “Team Merk” consisting of five people took part in the annual general meeting to help 1. FC Kaiserslautern, which was then highly indebted. Merk received the mandate of the FCK members with a large majority. However, his term of office was always marked by uncertainties.
From June to December 2020, the club successfully went through insolvency proceedings under self-administration and secured the game in the third division with the help of regional investors. The football professionals got rid of debts of over 20 million euros. This year there was a rescheduling in the entire club from short to medium and long-term liabilities – an important point for Merk in securing the future. But in the background it kept simmering. The former professional Thomas Hengen had also come more and more to the fore in his role as managing director in recent months.
“Markus has played a large part in the process of sporting and economic stabilization of the FCK,” said the chairman of the supervisory board, Rainer Keßler, in summary: “As a reliable contact and representative, he has opened important doors and helped shape the basis for the change.”
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