Darmstadt 98 Coach Florian Kohfeldt, Digi Mart USA News (Hesse, Germany): Darmstadt 98 has responded to its sporting crisis with a joint statement from its presidium, management and head coach, expressing mutual confidence. The message suggests that business will continue as before, but with changes in approach.
The club, which has fallen from promotion contender to relegation candidate within months, published the statement on Monday. It quoted President Markus Pfitzner, sporting director Paul Fernie and coach Florian Kohfeldt.
According to the statement, the situation is serious and can only be resolved together.
Pfitzner said that the club stands for continuity but that everyone is fully aware of the seriousness of the situation. He said the sporting situation had been thoroughly analyzed and reviewed.
Fernie held detailed talks with Kohfeldt “in complete openness” and then reported to the full presidium.
Directly after Saturday’s defeat in Nuremberg, Fernie had avoided making a clear commitment to the coach, which had fueled speculation. The club now aims to end that speculation.
Kohfeldt said such conversations are never welcome but described them as a sign of strength and attitude. He said the club is extremely important to everyone and that this openness makes direct communication possible.
He added: “I feel the trust of the entire club.”
There had previously been signs that the coach and sporting director did not always agree on the quality of individual players in the current squad. Fernie responded that both men share considerable dissatisfaction with the current league position, while also sharing trust in the team and its potential.
He said he remains convinced of Kohfeldt’s meticulous work.
The immediate goal is to leave the relegation zone behind as soon as possible after the second-division winter break. Kohfeldt had previously said after the Nuremberg defeat: “We will have nothing to do with relegation at the end of the season if we continue like this.” The club’s statement supports the first part of that assertion, and the path forward will be taken together.
