Hörster today asked Reiner Calmund to retire from his job in Leverkusen. Calmund denied this request, but said to want to sleep about it until tomorrow. It is expected that behind the scenery they are pulling the strings for an immediate successor. As it seems, Bayer already signed a Coach for the next season, who probably is not available already yet, which means that they have to get someone just for the rest of the season. The most probable solution is Jürgen Kohler, who just signed as sporting director two weeks ago; as he is relatively unexperienced (a couple of mediocre U21 games), they think about a veteran at his side - speculated is Udo Lattek. Personally I could imagine that DFB "loans" Rudi Völler and/or Michael Skibbe for that time.
Calmund turned the request down. Bayer's officials asked the team yesterday and they did a clear vote for Hörster. After that, Calmund drove to Hörster and persuaded him to go on. Despite of that, Calmund still says to not know what happens after the Schalke game this weekend.
Horster will be on the bench, they will lose, and Kohler will take over for the rest of the season. Very sad times in Leverkusen.
Kicker comment on the situation: Reiner Calmund likes to use this picture. If some of his employees is in negative headlines, then he’s talking about a pig that is hunted through the village. He’s showing pity for the affected person. His problem now: Calmund himself is the pig that is hunted through the village with high speed since weeks, and it’s getting more and more intense. To a large degree he has to blame himself. His mistakes are numerous, for a top man like him almost incredible. At the beginning of the season he announced to retire soon. Back then nobody knew that the new transfers would be bad ones. The next error. The situation that was critical from the beginning on was talked harmless. Too long and too naïve he was sticking to Klaus Toppmöller, who was caught by his romance but couldn’t catch the team. Team internal critics, who talked too loud and made politics against Calmund, were accepted. It seemed that Calmund’s instinct left him. But: although many viewers blame him with about 80% for a relegation – he is not being the one to blame. The ones to blame are the players, who – another mistake – were protected too long. If in this situation it is getting to the public that the agent of Bernd Schneider is negotiating with Borussia Dortmund for the case of Bayer’s relegation, then Reiner Calmund is simply without power. Schneider by far won’t be the only one, who ordered his agent to negotiate with other clubs already – that’s the business. Calmund is powerless. And the hope relies on a trace of character, attitude and fairness of his guys. But they know: if they fail, then the pig that is hunted through the village is Reiner Calmund. And the ? [Söldner = someone who does a job without identification and leaves as soon as he gets a better paid job] is going to the next village.