Nothing at TSV 1860 Munich is the same these days. The investor representative Anthony Power was once responsible for cryptic slogans in social media at the Giesinger third division football team – mostly as part of the shareholder power struggle with the eV. Now it is President Robert Reisinger who leaves room for interpretation with a post on Facebook. “I cut ties without hesitation,” he shared, “with no explanation and no warning. When I realize I can’t trust someone. Life is too short and I’m too old to hang out with people surrounded by people who didn’t understand the concept of loyalty.”
As with power, you can think about who is meant – and it doesn’t take long. The vice presidents, with whom Reisinger has formed the presidency since he took office six years ago, should feel addressed – Heinz Schmidt and above all Hans Sitzberger. Tax consultant Schmidt takes care of the eV finances and secured the non-profit status. Sitzberger has been a sponsor for many years, both in the professional football association KGaA and in the eV, takes care of the cleaning of the training grounds with his company and was otherwise responsible for awarding the honors at the general meetings. Now the two are suddenly playing an important role in club politics – because they did not side with President Reisinger when it came to the question of a new sports director for the professional football KGaA, but supported the plans of the investors.
Even before the general meeting at the beginning of July, Reisinger had shown himself to be tired of office. He then appeared combative at the event and announced: “TSV 1860 Munich should soon have a sporting director of stature again.” Horst Heldt was meant, and apparently Reisinger hoped to change his two vice presidents’ minds in the cause. But Sitzberger agreed with the opinion of the investor representatives – Saki Stimoniaris and Power – and also the professional football KGaA with managing director Marc-Nicolai Pfeifer: Heldt was the wrong man for the post, and anyway no sports director was necessary for the preparation of the season. The expertise and contacts of trainer Maurizio Jacobacci, the investor’s preferred candidate, are sufficient in cooperation with scout Jürgen Jung and Pfeifer.
Schmidt did not position himself against this solution either, Reisinger saw it completely differently – and was suddenly isolated within the presidium. It remains to be seen whether Heldt would have taken up the office of sports director against the wishes of the investors – Pfeifer and Sitzberger were now permanently seen as a duo at the games, Reisinger hardly showed up.
By December 31, the Presidium must decide on the extension of the contract with the managing director
As every year, the Executive Committee must decide by December 31 whether to extend the contract with the managing director or let it expire on June 30 of the following year. Pfeifer can count on Sitzberger’s support at the moment. It’s different with Reisinger – except maybe if Pfeifer introduces another strong sports director soon. Thomas Hitzlsperger, 41, most recently sports director and chairman of the board at VfB Stuttgart, is still a candidate. The former national player could have the potential not only to reunite the presidency on this issue, but also to convince the investor side.
The current rift between the members of the presidency now calls the board of directors into action, which according to the statute controls the presidency. A joint meeting of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee is scheduled for mid-September to determine whether the Executive Committee is still able to act in the current situation – and whether there are actually members of the Executive Committee who want or would resign. “I deny every rumor of resignation,” Reisinger told the SZ on Tuesday after returning from vacation, “but we have to think back to what made this presidency strong for six years.” A nod to Sitzberger, who in turn said: “I still have hope that the relationship can be repaired, I’m ready to talk about it. It would be best if we got along normally again.”
Open detailed view
Thomas Hitzlsperger.
(Photo: Ulrich Wagner/Imago)
If no one wants to resign, but the relationship remains so shattered, it gets complicated. Because members of the executive committee cannot be voted out of office by the board of directors, but only by a general meeting – and is hardly up for debate, because a personal rift or an opinion on squad planning is unlikely to be a reason for this drastic measure. If a member of the executive committee resigns, the board of directors could nominate a third person, who should be in office until the next general meeting without a vote by the members. Or he could even designate a fourth according to the statutes – then the vote of the (new or old) president would count in the event of a stalemate.
A lot now also depends on how the team, put together under Jacobacci’s leadership – with Sitzberger’s benevolence and against Reisinger’s will – performs in the course of the season. According to SZ information, the eV representatives on the supervisory board have not approved the necessary budget increases by a total of a good one million euros. That was her means of expressing her criticism, even if the investor representatives have the last word in this body. It’s not Sitzberger who sits there for the eV – but Reisinger next to Karl-Christian Bay and Sebastian Seeböck.
