There was a “positive exchange” between the second division soccer team Hamburger SV and investor Klaus-Michael Kühne on Wednesday. “It was a good conversation, a constructive start,” said supervisory board chairman Marcell Jansen after the meeting of the HSV executive committee with the 85-year-old billionaire. “Both parties are concerned with stabilization, debt relief and a competitive future orientation for HSV Fußball AG,” emphasized Jansen.
Kühne Holding AG, as the second-largest shareholder of HSV Fußball AG, recently offered the club an additional investment of 120 million euros if the club would increase Kühne’s stake in HSV from the current 15.21 to 39.9 percent and HSV e.V. its stake as the majority shareholder would be reduced from 75.1 percent to 50.1 percent. Jansen rejected this with reference to the articles of association (the maximum for foreign investors is currently 24.9 percent).
A change in the statutes would only be possible with a three-quarters majority in membership. Meanwhile, HSV agreed with main sponsor HanseMerkur to grant a 23 million euro loan for the renovation of the Volksparkstadion. Now the HSV is still missing guarantors.
Kühne said he was offering “significant support for establishing healthy financial conditions” and wanted to achieve “long-term stabilization” for the AG. Therefore, the stadium must be “renovated at great expense”, the debt reduced, the team strengthened. “This requires a significant broadening of the capital base”.
In terms of sport, planning for the future is also about coach Tim Walter. HSV striker Robert Glatzel sees him as a key success factor for the Hamburg second division soccer team. In an interview with “Sport Bild”, the 28-year-old striker also spoke out in favor of extending Walter’s contract. “It’s just good that you have continuity in the coaching team. That will lead us to long-term success, I’m sure of it,” said Glatzel.
Since Walter took office in the summer of 2021, he has seen a positive development in the current second in the table. “If you look at games from a year ago and compare them to ours now, you can see a difference,” he said. “We played wild at times back then. It’s different today. Because we players have internalized the way we want to play football.”
Walter’s contract runs until the end of the season. After HSV only missed out on promotion in the relegation match against Hertha BSC last season, returning to the Bundesliga is the declared goal this season. Sports director Jonas Boldt has long advocated continuing the cooperation with Walter, which the supervisory board ultimately decides on.
Glatzel expressly praised the human qualities of the 46-year-old coach. “He addresses everything clearly and is always honest. But he also hugs you sometimes,” he said. “You always know where you stand with him.” Walter sets an example that “every player, every employee is important to him”.