Austria board member Gerhard Krisch describes the days before the license documents are submitted as “stressful”. The Viennese big club, which is accompanied by financial problems, is considered a burned child. In 2021 and 2022, Austria only received permission to play for the next season at the second attempt. This year the “Violets” germinate the tender hope of the okay in the first attempt. The documents must be received by the Bundesliga by Friday.
Due to its recent history, Austria is under close observation before Senate 5 (Licensing Committee). Among other things, the favorites must submit a half-yearly report certified by an auditor and a positive going concern forecast. Apparently there is a lot of persuasion to do. However, one is “very confident” that all required documents will be submitted, said Krisch to the APA. “We are now in our second season and have taken and learned a lot from the first year. But it’s a challenge,” said the Viennese, who has been on the board since 2021.
As a reminder: In the past 2021/22 financial year, Austria wrote a minus of just over seven million euros. The liabilities are 64.4 million euros. Krisch stated that figures in the black are not to be expected in the next two financial years. After the war in Ukraine, Austria suspended cooperation with Gazprom, which opened up a hole of five million euros. The rising energy costs also hit the club. Krisch cites an increase of one million euros in operating costs.
Increasing revenues and reducing costs remain the watchwords. Krisch says regarding the licensing last year: “One swallow doesn’t make a summer.” The renovation of the club is a multi-year project. In principle, the mood is positive that the turnaround can be realised. “I think Austria’s potential and power are big enough to do that.” According to reports, monetary holes have recently been plugged once more. As the “Kurier” (Thursday edition) reported, the investors jumped in following a liquidity hole of up to five million euros had opened up.
What slows Austria down are internal quarrels. The impression that everyone is pulling in the same direction does not arise at the distribution group. Krisch does not want to get involved in speculation in this regard. “What the club needs is calm and solidarity,” he says. A general meeting on March 8th is supposed to create some calm, in which the regular members are supposed to approve the new board of directors. The original proposal was rejected at the end of November. The name of the former SPÖ politician Andreas Rudas, identified by the fans as an obstructionist for months, is no longer on the new list.
In terms of license, it will be interesting for Austria in mid-April. Then the Senate decision 5 flutters in. Last year, in addition to Austria, the second division clubs SKN St. Pölten and Wacker Innsbruck also had to stay in detention. The Viennese and Lower Austrians, who were sanctioned with three minus points due to a delay in the deadline, received the second instance of permission to play, the Tyroleans also failed the protest committee and subsequently withdrew from professional football.
From the 2nd league, from the squad of the leading teams with the SKN St. Pölten and Blau Weiß Linz, the leader of the table and the first pursuer strive for the license for the upper house and thus also for promotion. The fourth-placed GAK also wants this, the third Horn, on the other hand, has no ambitions to make it into the upper house.