Kicker Report: Schröder unavailable for Schalke sporting director position, Knäbel promotion likely
German footballing magazine Kicker cites its own internal sources to report that Schalke 04 can strike off another name for its vacant sporting director position.
Former FSV Mainz 05 sporting director Rouven Schröder was among the names traded as a possible candidate to lead the Schalke rebuilding effort from the front office. According to information from "Kicker", however, the 45-year-old has made it known that he is not available.
After Rang Rangnick officially declined to be considered for the position, supervisory board chairman Dr. Jens Buchta publicly avowed that he could still find a new sporting director "in the near term." Buchta admitted that the club must prepare for the second division in his recent comments, noting that the search must be concluded "with a view to the start of the second division at the end of July."
The board member who attempted to steer Buchta towards the Rangnick notion from the inside of the board, Dr. Stefan Gesenhues, recently resigned his position. A group of 14 club influencers who introduced themselves to the public in the hopes of swaying Buchta have, since the Rangnick decision, publicly vowed to fight on. Though they have issued statements claiming that the Rangnick matter isn't yet settled, few in German footballing circles doubt that it is.
Hence, the race against time continues with Buchta the sole decider. At this juncture, it appears that the chairman will have little choice but to promote internally. Promoting acting sporting director Peter Knäbel to a permanent post might be the only option. Buchta conceded as much in recent comments.
"As a club, we're now in a very difficult position when it comes to finding personnel," Buchta told Kicker in a previous interview, "He [Knäbel] has made a very good impression."