Surprise in Magdeburg: Schork no longer managing director

Otmar Schork is no longer Managing Director Sport at second-division soccer club 1. FC Magdeburg. As the club announced, the FCM management and Schork reached the decision by mutual agreement. They jointly came to the conclusion "that the coming summer is a suitable time for a new start in terms of personnel. In order to give both sides sufficient planning security, it was decided by mutual agreement to end the cooperation with Otmar now," said supervisory board chairman Lutz Petermann in an FCM statement.

Schork joined the only European Cup winners of the GDR in November 2020 and was jointly responsible for the third division championship and the associated promotion to the second division. However, after finishing fifth in the previous season, things did not go well this season. The sporting director was blamed for mistakes in appointing the coach and a lack of transfer activity, particularly during the winter break.

Schork admits personal mistakes

"The season so far has not gone as we had imagined in sporting terms. So mistakes have been made on my part. I bear the responsibility for that. With Jörg Biastoch and Lutz Petermann, we came to the decision early on to realign the club for the future. It is therefore the right time to give the future managers sufficient time to plan the coming season," explained Schork.

President Biastoch emphasized: "The decision undoubtedly means a change within our sporting management. Otmar Schork has supported our club with great commitment over the past few years. However, we all believe that a new impetus is needed in order to bundle all our strengths for the remainder of the season and focus as much as possible on staying in the league. We therefore believe that a change in personnel at this point in time makes sense."

New managing director "in due course"

The relevant club bodies will decide on the appointment of a new sporting director in due course. Until then, managing director Martin Geisthardt will take over the duties
in an acting capacity.