Long Summer for Hansa Rostock
After Hansa Rostock relegated to the 2. Bundesliga there were many headlines in the newspapaers. Speculations suggested that the coach may leave the club and that Beinlich’s new position in the club is in doubt. Barbarez on the other hand was thought to be the first transfer surprise but now that a week has passed things are awkwardly quiet in Rostock. In the meantime Agali left the club and Orestes is on his way to Brazil with his Chinese wife. Pagelsdorf is staying but that is it. Fans may be disappointed to not hear much from their beloved club. The excitement about a possible signing of Barbarez is gone when only one new name is heard around the stadium lately. Robert Lechleiter from Bavarian third division side Unterhaching is supposedly set to join Hansa. A striker that might take Barbarez’ position and will be welcomed in a less exciting manner for obvious reasons. Former managers and presidents used the papers to state that Hansa needs to take some money in their hands and spend it on quality players, money the club actually does not have. All in all the team shall be good enough for the 2. Bundesliga but it is with doubt that fans hope for a bounce back to the top flight next season. As the club stays calm, the fans used the time to protest again against the new stadium name that was introduced before the season. Hansa, in its past, never had a sponsored stadium name and many fans were angry at the change of the Ostseestadion. A name that used to represent the area so well and a stadium that was hand build by volunteers in the 1950’s. Last night a group of twelve men attacked the security who watches the sponsor sign 24 hours a day. The two security men jumped behind a fence to look for safety while the group of masked and covered men dressed in black threw stones and color bombs at the big illuminated sign. So far it is unknown who the men were and who will pay for the sign that has been constantly under attack throughout the entire season. The hefty protest against the sign started in the summer with a march of hundreds of fans through the city centre and still has not stopped. Last gossip of the day is that Hansa might get a new sponsor on the shirt for the news season despite KIK still having one year remaining on the contract. From a merchandise source inside the club, one was told that it is uncertain who will be sponsor on the shirt next season and that KIK might not be the one despite the contract. Good news regarding the shirts is also that Hansa will most likely have the Hansa Rostock writing over the players’ names next season like they used to in the more successful days of the mid nineties. Since Jako and Masita manufactured the shirts, the writing Hansa Rostock or F.C. Hansa disappeared from the shirts which was not a popular decision amongst the fans.
Good news are always welcomed and in Rostock people are waiting for new signings and remain hopeful while summer’s around the corner.
