Darmstadt part company with sporting director Wehlmann
Last-placed Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 confirmed a separation with sporting director Carsten Wehlmann late Friday afternoon.
Relegation-threatened Bundesliga side SV Darmstadt 98 will head into the coming January transfer window without the sporting director who helped engineer their rise to the German top flight. On Friday, the Hessen-based club confirmed that personnel boss Carsten Wehlmann's contract had been terminated by mutual consent. The experienced German footballing administrate had been in office since 2019.
"We would like to thank Carsten Wehlmann for his commitment over the past few years," club President Rüdiger Fritsch noted in a statement, "especially in terms of squad planning and the selection of coaches. Although his decision presents us with major challenges due to the timing in view of the upcoming winter transfer phase, we have to accept and respect his decision."
"These have been eventful and exciting years," the 51-year-old said in his own statement, "I would like to thank the executive committee around Rüdiger Fritsch for the trust they have placed in me. I shall recall this time fondly."
"When I started here as sporting director almost five years ago, we were in a difficult situation in the second division," Wehlmann continued, ""After several sporting milestones, I have come to the conclusion in recent months that it is time for a change. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the Lilies that they continue on the successful path and manage to stay in the Bundesliga."
At present, it remains unclear who who will serve as Darmstadt's chief personnel officer during the current transfer window. Wehlmann's final piece of business saw him loan transfer bust Filip Stojilkovic out to second division side 1. FC Kaiserslautern some eight days ago. Darmstadt currently maintain a rather large 30-man professional payroll. Large winter purchases seem unfeasible in light of the club's financial situation.