Club struggles with “big mistake”
SV Meppen is fighting for cult coach Middendorp
05/24/2023 07:41 am
After six years, SV Meppen has to go back to the regional league. Things were going so well at the traditional club recently. Which was also up to the coach. But is Ernst Middendorp staying? And if so, in what capacity? The cult trainer makes comprehensive demands for a possible whereabouts.
After the brilliant 4:1 against Dynamo Dresden, Ernst Middendorp went on a small lap of honour. The veteran coach high-fived a few fans, even posing for a photo here and there. In those minutes there was nothing to indicate that it was SV Meppen’s last home game in the 3rd division for the time being. But the relegation of the Emsländer was certain since Halle’s win against Essen on Saturday.
“When you see how we’ve developed, you’re already thinking after a game like that. Then you think: How stupid can you be that you are relegated with this quality,” said Middendorp on Monday evening. “That’s bitter.” The 64-year-old succeeded Stefan Krämer in Meppen at the beginning of March. Although the veteran was not able to prevent the Emslanders from being relegated from the 3rd division, the form curve of the Meppener recently showed upwards. In the past five games, SVM has won four and drawn one. Many in the environment are sure: the change of coach came too late.
Held on to Kramer for too long
Spokesman of the board Andreas Kremer also admitted this. “A big mistake was that we stuck with Stefan Krämer for too long,” said Kremer before the game at Magentasport. Now it is important “to make the 3rd division possible again as quickly as possible,” said Kremer. It is very likely that Middendorp will also play an important role. The decision about his future will be made this week. “The talks are ongoing and we want to get that done this week,” said Meppen’s managing director Ronald Maul on Tuesday of the German Press Agency.
The question is whether Middendorp will remain as a coach or as a sporting director. A dual function is also conceivable. “That’s also possible. It’s now a question of how we position ourselves in terms of sport,” said Maul, whose future has also not yet been clarified. “I can imagine staying, but we will also decide that in the near future,” said Maul.
“I don’t give a damn how to call it”
After the 4-1 win against Dynamo Dresden, Middendorp made it clear that he would only stay if he continued to have full responsibility for working with the team. “I don’t give a damn what you call it. If I continue to do it here, I would do it in full, maybe even double,” said Middendorp of the “Meppener Tagespost”. “Only I would not stand on the sidelines and watch as someone completely overthrows the processes that we have now started. That will not happen,” said Middendorp.
On the fringes of the game against Dresden, the name of Adrian Alipour circulated as the new coach. It remains to be seen whether the current coach of the Southwest regional league club RW Koblenz would line up under the dominant Middendorp. The only thing that is certain is that the Meppen team want to get back up as quickly as possible. “The goal must be very clear to have a say in the fight for the championship in the Regionalliga Nord,” said Maul. Then it would go into a relegation against the champions of the Regionalliga Bayern.