After the dismissal of Gerry Fleming: Kloten’s sports director is now also a coach

Was it not an option for these skilled assistants Rintanen and Martikainen to take over the coaching job for the time being?
No, we are convinced that three coaches are needed on the boards. This was evident in last year’s situation with Jeff Tomlinson’s health problems. Kimmo and Saku have already done a lot, sometimes more than assistants usually do. But it takes a head coach to get the message across. That was Tomlinson’s strength. If I can do as well as he does, we will have a similar situation to last season.

As a team leader you are responsible for recruiting players who have not yet been able to perform optimally. Now you have to inform them as a trainer. A risk if it doesn’t work out?
I haven’t signed two-thirds of the players, but that applies to a third. Everyone can judge for themselves who delivers and who doesn’t. For some it is very clear. But it doesn’t matter who signed who. Because a coach is expected to get the best out of the team available to him. And that he makes the players better. I am aware that being a coach is not the same as being a sports director. The fact that I held the dual mandate for the first three years in Augsburg and that we were successful encourages and motivates me. And then I didn’t even have an assistant coach.

Do you see a disadvantage of the double mandate?
One disadvantage is that there is only one Larry Mitchell, but there are many jobs to do. Therefore, this is not a long-term solution, as the dual mandate has become a major challenge. Christian Dubé from Friborg proves that it can work, but it undoubtedly requires a huge effort.

Are there any benefits?
Yes, I have been here for 13 months and watched the players. I can say that I know their strengths and weaknesses. And therefore being able to press the right buttons so that they can achieve their top performance. The biggest challenge for a coach is knowing which players need the whip and which need hugs.

more on the subject

After a bankrupt weekend

Kloten pulls the emergency brake and fires Coach Fleming

Forster strengthens Biel coach

“Matikainen lives for our team”

No more punishment king

DiDomenico’s journey from hothead to model professional

Checked tracks on the ice

Biels Brunner can laugh at Klotens Meyer’s offside

Back in the football world

Ex-Nati coach Ralph Krueger has a new job

When do you want to introduce a new trainer?
I can’t answer that now. We determine the class schedule together with the club management. My phone has been ringing all morning. It’s amazing how quickly this happens. But one thing is certain: it won’t be a quick fix.

Has the relegation battle already started for Kloten?
I said at the beginning of the season that in my experience the second season after promotion is more difficult than the first. You have to keep in mind that you can take one of the last two spots. But our goal remains to get away from these places that are in danger of being relegated.

National League 23/24

Presented by

		team	SP	T.D	PT
	1	HC Fribourg-Gotteron	24	19	47
	2	EV train	23	33	46
	3	ZSC Lions	22	26	43
	4	HC Ambri-Piotta	22	13	38
	5	HC Lugano	23	7	38
	6	SC Bern	23	0	37
	7	Lausanne HC	23	1	35
	8th	Geneva-Servette HC	22	-5	34
	9	HC Davos	23	6	34
	10	SCL Tigers	23	-22	32
	11	SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers	22	-8th	27
	12	EHC Biel	22	-15	25
	13	EHC Kloten	23	-27	21
	14	HC Ajoie	21	-28	17