Darmstadt President Markus Pfitzner: „Paul has accomplished a tremendous amount over the past two years: He has further professionalised our sporting structure and, with his innovative approaches, has helped us develop as a club. Above all, he has ensured that after a difficult one-year stint in the Bundesliga, we are once again playing a very strong role in the 2. Bundesliga. With this long-term contract, Paul is clearly demonstrating his commitment to Darmstadt. Together with Tom Eilers, he will continue to drive the path of consistent professionalisation, and we believe we are ideally positioned for the future. The externally visible upgrade of his title to Managing Director of Sport is an expression of our great trust in and firm belief in Paul.“
Paul Fernie: „It’s no secret that I feel very comfortable in this special club and its environment, and I’m incredibly happy to be working for SV 98. A key factor in my decision to extend my contract was the strong relationship of trust with our board and the transparency in our interactions and regarding mutual expectations. Markus and his team are very keen to understand, follow, and support our daily business and decision-making processes. This makes my work, for example in squad planning, much easier. This knowledge, coupled with a clear vision, made the decision to extend my contract long-term easy. I’m really looking forward to our future together.“
Fernie took up his position as sporting director at the Lilies in April 2024. The 39-year-old will now join SV 98’s four-member management team, consisting of Michael Weilguny (commercial operations), Martin Kowalewski (marketing & sales), and Tom Eilers (match operations & organisational development).