Mr. Fritsch, has there ever been someone in the team at SV Darmstadt 98 who has earned more than one million euros a year?
No.
Will there be one or more in the upcoming Premier League season?
No.
Despite a probable license player budget of around 25 million euros?
They named the number. But when it comes to the squad and the coaching and support staff, we’re basically talking about 35 to 40 people. Of course, our players have staggered contracts based on their league affiliation. In the Bundesliga there is more, in the third division the wages would be correspondingly less. By the way: The costs increase in roughly the same proportion as the additional income. If we start the season with that amount, we’ll be around 20 to 30 million euros behind our closest competitors, of course depending on who climbs up with us.
How often will you mention that again during the Bundesliga season, for example when it says: “Setback in the relegation battle” or “Darmstadt’s away weakness continues”?
It should be clear that it is a Herculean task and can then be described as a miracle to keep Darmstadt 98 in the first division. But that doesn’t matter. We don’t see each other as tourists on a Bundesliga trip. As athletes, we like to be challenged and talk about it.
In their first reaction after the completed ascent, they immediately demanded “respect for small Darmstadt”. Something seemed to have been building up there for you…
…Yes. I’ve heard the tenor that the “lilies, to put it mildly, no enrichment for the Bundesliga” a few times too often. I defend myself against this lack of respect. In general, a balanced competition is always required – and in the second division this is obviously the case. Because we certainly don’t have the biggest budget, the biggest stadium, the biggest economic substance, but we’ve still been able to position ourselves well in recent years. It shows that you can make up for a lot with the famous virtues such as fighting spirit and team spirit. On the other hand, how can you say that it’s really crap that clubs like Darmstadt 98 are coming up? Those should then logically also promote the American model of closed leagues filled with selected franchisees without promotion and relegation.
Why are the “lilies” an asset to the Bundesliga?
We managed to get promoted to the Bundesliga in 2015 and stayed in the league in 2016 as ugly ducklings with sub-par conditions at all levels. In the seven years that followed, we developed a clear profile and are an example of how much can be achieved with community spirit and seriousness. We embody that. The fan landscape in Darmstadt is also great, the stadium is smaller but extremely atmospheric. Darmstadt 98 has a lot to offer. If you don’t believe it, you can stop by.
If you get hold of a ticket for a Bundesliga game. Because that might be difficult in view of the only 17,800 seats at the Böllenfalltor?
That’s probably true.
For the first time in years, the club is no longer putting off large and expensive infrastructure projects. Is it still important to you that after a possible short first-division game, everything can be restored to second-division conditions without an accident? Or are you now taking a more aggressive stance financially?
