Hertha has elected and a new president. And what a – a child of the curve. Kay Bernstein, 41, formerly an ultra with a stadium ban and now a communications entrepreneur. What will he do with Hertha? The members managed at least one surprise with the election.
There was a slap in the face for the club establishment that was voted out. It remains to be hoped that those who chose the radical break did not just do so in protest. Because the tasks facing the association are enormous, and Bernstein has no experience at the head of such a large company.
So Hertha will be managed differently in the future. In terms of public image, given the media grumpiness of its predecessor, this is certainly an advantage. But that alone is not enough. Werner Gegenbauer’s 14-year tenure weighed too heavily on the club. Unlike Bernstein, he will focus much more on the needs of the fans, but it must not become too romantic about football.
After years of stagnation, Hertha must now actually make progress in terms of content under new management: economically, sportingly and interculturally. Too much is in ruins.
Perhaps what is acutely most important is to unite and reconcile the club across the board, to join forces and, at the same time, to establish a performance culture in the operative business. Because the actual work is done by others in the club.
