The 2017 General Assembly of BV Borussia 09 e.V. was objective and constructive. Gerd Pieper and Dr. Reinhard Lunow were almost unanimously confirmed in their offices.

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Gerd Pieper

There were only two abstentions in the election of the Deputy President and the Treasurer. Gerd Pieper goes into his fourth and Dr. Ing. Reinhold Lunow inro his fifth term. Of the 153.787 members, 1235 (voting: 1176) were present.

Next to the lectern shone the DFB-Pokal, yet the events of yesterday afternoon were present in everyone. "This draw feels like a defeat," said BVB President Dr. Ing. Reinhard Rauball, who went as usual through the more than three and a half hour long assembly. The team was greeted with quiet applause, but also interspersed with whistles. Rauball said "it was a gathering that could not have taken place at a worse time. But as it went, it shows us all what sets Borussia Dortmund apart."

"The BVB family gives support. The third largest club in the world is more than what you see on TV," said Hans-Joachim Watzke in a speech that was interrupted several times by applause. Borussia Dortmund GmbH & Co. KGaA posted record sales of 405 million euros, which do not include the transfer of Ousmane Dembélé, in the past financial year (1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017). "No one has to worry about our economic situation," said Watzke, listing: "Financial debt zero, bank balances just under 50 million, since 2011 a net profit of 139 million euros."

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Reinhold Lunow

Because 2017 was a "very intense year, as I have never experienced it", with a cup victory, U19 championship, bad injuries like that of Marco Reus or A-teenager Dario Scuderi ("he now has the umpteenth operation behind him and we are looking for ways in which we can help him professionally") and also the "bombing that deeply affected the club" Watzke did not want to be so hard on the team". Nevertheless, he formulated "the clear expectation" to coach Peter Bosz and his team, "that you turn every stone around and put everything to the test! At the same time, Watzke reminded us of "calm and prudence" as well as an "open, honest and critical approach to each other" - "we have been playing internationally for eight years, have twice been German Champions and have twice been DFB Cup winners."

"Qualification for the Champions League the most important"

Of the pros on show, he demanded that "champions League qualification is paramount." Rauball said "the team is required now. It has to turn the corner. The team has my trust. "Watzke admitted to the outgoing head of professional football, Sven Mislintat: "It was my mistake that a deserving employee was treated like that for a year and a half." Looking to the future, Michael Zorc and Markus Pilawa "guarantee that we will not get any frictional losses in scouting".

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If the City of Dortmund council gives expected approval in mid-December, Borussia Dortmund will buy the grounds at the Rabenloh and there fulfill a long-held wish of the fan department "to build a meeting place where our fan culture can develop further".

e.V. generates almost 2 million euros surplus

The treasurer of the registered association, Dr. Reinhold Lunow, was again able to present the members in the black. Revenues increased by € 500,000 to € 9.06 million, the surplus amounted to € 1.946 million (previous year: € 1.606 million) and cash and cash equivalents totaled more than € 7 million. Since the 2012/13 financial year, BV Borussia 09 e.V. has no liabilities to banks.

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The discharge of the Board of Management was unanimous and a reduced fee for severely handicapped members will be introduced in the coming financial year. Ursula Reitemeyer-Witt and Maro Blumberg were confirmed in their offices. Reinhard Rauball announced there will be measures taken to modernise the Borusseum and to bring it up to date technologically.
Boris Rupert