After the chaos season: Kloten separates from team leader Mitchell

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For Kloten, the season ended abruptly due to the canceled play-outs, the final player discussions have taken place – and the club immediately fires its sports director Larry Mitchell. The 56-year-old only accepted his position as successor to Patrik Bärtschi (39, from May at SCB) in mid-October 2022.

It seems that the clean-up work will start at EHC Kloten after a turbulent and chaotic season in which almost nothing was skipped. First of all, the dismissal of coach Gerry Fleming (56, Ka) in mid-November. Mitchell took over as interim coach until the end of January and had to leave the field shortly after four straight wins. Then Stephan Mair (56, It) was allowed to work for five weeks. The rumor persisted that Mair was not Mitchell’s choice and was hired behind his back.

Tense relationship

The relationship within the club management remained tense, although it was repeatedly publicly emphasized that confidence in Mitchell as sporting director was unbroken. In a Blick interview two months ago, chairman Jan Schibli said when asked whether he would be questioned as sports director: “No. Because our current situation is not just Mitchell’s fault, it’s the entire team’s fault.” Two months later a different conclusion was reached.

“After the season it was important for the organization to address the position of team leader as quickly as possible. This so that the final selection planning and the filling of the position of head coach for the 2024/25 season can be completed as quickly as possible. “Sports advisor Jeff Tomlinson will be responsible for sporting matters until a successor is found – in close collaboration with the club management,” the press release said. Officially there is a divorce by mutual consent.

From one faux pas to the next

Other faux pas were not left out either. In the midst of the crisis in February, it was announced that top scorer Jonathan Ang (26, Ka) would leave the club, although they would have liked to keep him, but no agreement was reached in the talks. A week later, injured Canadian Nathan Beaulieu (31) was sent home early after his contract was terminated. And now the dismissal of the sports director. This position must also be filled in addition to that of trainer.

EHC Kloten did not find the necessary level-headedness at any time this season, which led to some questionable decisions. You won’t find club DNA. For a club like Kloten, the identity question would be the first to be asked when processing the past few months.

Source : Blick