Keller and Kessler willing to re-negotiate Schultz's contract after relegation

Club sporting director Christian Keller and licensing head Thomas Kessler have sent out signals that the Domstädter wish to retain head-coach Timo Schultz even in the event of relegation. Schultz does not possess a contract valid for the German second division.

Timo Schultz appointment as 1. FC Köln trainer at the turn of the calendar year – it was rumored and has now been confirmed – saw the 46-year-old sign an 18-month-contract that is only valid for the German first division. On the occasion of the 100th day of Schultz’s tenure, club sporting director Christian Keller and Köln licensing head Thomas Kessler confirmed this at a Kölner-Stadt Anzeige organized media round ahead of Schultz’s own pre-match presser.

The cathedral city side have managed to pick up six points via draws under the Schultz regime. A big upset win over Eintracht Frankfurt on match-day 20 and last weekend’s dramatic 2-1 late comeback victory over relegation rivals Bochum give die Geißböcke a total of 12 points in 12 league fixtures under Schultz. Both Kessler and Keller praised the trainer’s work at their event and emphasized that they would like to continue cooperation.

“I’m very satisfied with the coach’s work,” Keller said, “Then the future of the coach isn’t contingent on which league we play in.”

“We’re planning all scenarios internally,” Schultz himself later said at his press conference, “We obviously have the common goal of avoiding relegation. If we can achieve that, I’m sure I’ll be happy here for far longer than 100 days.”