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08.04.2026 / English

A message from Paul: „All together for Darmstadt 98“

“Fernie becomes sporting director at SV 98” – SV Darmstadt 98 made this announcement exactly two years ago today, on April 8, 2024. Paul Fernie has been working as sporting director for the Lilies for two years now. In his Lilienkurier column “Post from Paul,” the 38-year-old looks back on his first two years at the Böllenfalltor stadium – words that we would also like to share with you on our homepage.

Sportdirektor Paul Fernie
Foto: SV 98

Dear Darmstadt fans,

I’ve been working as sporting director at Darmstadt for almost exactly two years now. And I’ve used this small anniversary over the past few days to reflect on my time here. A comprehensive summary would be beyond the scope of this message, so I’ve decided to focus on one area – the culture of shared responsibility that we’ve built at SV 98 during this period.

What does shared responsibility mean? „Trust your experts“ is a very important motto for us. My decision to bring Flo on board as our coach was a pivotal moment for this new approach and way of working at Darmstadt 98. I needed a coach I could trust to drive and implement changes together – someone who was on the same wavelength as me. Since our first meeting, I’ve valued Flo as an expert, and it’s clear that he’s been doing an outstanding job since joining us. But he’s not alone: ​​We trust the experts at all levels and in all areas. Each and every one of us focuses on the goal of creating an environment where all our players can improve. Our greatest strength in this process is that there are no egos and no one puts themselves above the team.

Challenges are tackled smartly, creatively, and courageously. No one lets difficult situations derail them; instead, everyone works immediately and purposefully toward a solution. Side by side, and always with Darmstadt 98 in mind. As sporting director, I now look out into a room full of people I can trust implicitly at every team meeting. That’s a good feeling and a valuable asset we possess at this club. An ambitious, critical, and solution-oriented community where passion is never lacking. This description applies to the coaching staff, performance, analysis, scouting, data science, and physiotherapy departments just as much as to our team. Everyone is pulling in the same direction. But not blindly; we constantly question this direction. Sometimes, it only takes a few centimetres to deviate from the established path to move forward. Details are crucial. This also applies to the remaining games of the season. Mindset, performance, but also the necessary composure. This mix has defined us so far. Now, it’s about maintaining it until the final matchday.

… All together for SV Darmstadt 98. This headline would also perfectly describe my two years at the club. Let’s keep going.

Yours, Paul

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