A goalless draw against Heidenheim in a crucial relegation fixture on Friday night technically leaves VfL Bochum arithmetically alive in the Bundesliga relegation race. The lone point gained nevertheless didn’t help the league’s last-placed side much. After the match, both the club and head coach Dieter Hecking confirmed that they would still work together regardless of which tier the team plays in next season.
Previous reports suggested that Hecking would receive a two-year contract extension if the team avoided relegation. On Friday evening, it was confirmed that the extension Hecking signed at the end of March is valid for both the German first and second divisions.
“It’s not unlike a marriage,” Hecking noted at the post-match press conference last night. “If one feels comfortable and are appreciated, then one has to ask yourself: ‘Do you want to enjoy your job?’ I’m not the type to switch clubs quickly.”
A club press release issued shortly thereafter verified that Hecking would stay. Bochum administrator Ilja Kaenzig referred to the ongoing professional relationship as “a positive signal at a difficult time.”
Club executives must now prepare to build a squad with approximately half the budget of a top-flight organization. There is nonetheless good news for Bochum in that – as reported by a reliable source earlier this week – all but one of their players possess contracts valid for 2. Bundesliga football.
GGFN | Peter Weis
