Ivars Punnenovs (27) has been Langnau’s life insurance company for six years. The Latvian has renewed three times and is the highest-paid Tiger with a Swiss license. But now the contract is running out. And everything revolves around the question: will he stay or will he go?
Sports director Marc Eichmann wanted to nail it all in the summer. He says: “This position is absolutely central to us. We need outstanding goal performance every evening to be able to keep up. ” Especially now, when you are in a real home crisis (8 games, 8 bankruptcies) and urgently need points. Nevertheless, Punnenov’s personality is still open.
We had good conversations, says Eichmann. But he also says: «It’s been a long time now and we didn’t get any further. Now we are checking the market. ” Rumors that the Tigers Punnenovs are said to have made a financially poorer offer are denied by the sports director.
“Goalie should stay out of conviction”
«We didn’t bid more or less. Ivars has to make a landmark decision. Does he want to stay or do he want to take on a new challenge? Only when this has been clarified can we talk about the details. I want a goalie who wants to stay with us out of conviction. “
There is calculation behind Punnenov’s hesitation. In March 2018, the man, who moved to Switzerland alone and without a school leaving certificate at the age of 15, extended prematurely without any need. Several interested parties got in touch later. In addition, a year ago the then SCB sports director Florence Schelling thought about an engagement because she had doubts about Philip Wüthrich. But that never became concrete. Wüthrich would now be free, but his contract extension in Bern should be purely a matter of form.
Punnenovs vulnerable to injury
The tricky thing for Langnau is: Punnenovs has been sidelined several times in the past due to adductor problems. 2018/19 for several months. At that time Damiano Ciaccio stepped in. And led the Tigers to the playoffs.
Also this year Punnenovs had to sit out after he was hit by Bern’s Cory Conacher and suffered a concussion. Langnau brought in Robert Mayer. Hardly there, Punnenovs returned (much too early), played and fell out again.
On Tuesday, the 27-year-old was substituted at 1: 4 against Biel. He doesn’t want to comment. But soon he has no other choice. Langnau set a deadline and wants to have clarity by the Nati break in November.