Now it's time to vote

What “Hinti” & Co. expect from the new KFV boss

Former team star Martin Hinteregger(Bild: Christian Leopold / Neumayr / ServusTV)

The time has come! 173 soccer clubs will elect the new Carinthian Football Association boss this Friday. Interim boss Martin Mutz has to face the only opponent Manfred Mertel. Local legends, professionals, coaches and stars explain what needs to be improved:

The election campaign is over! The new president of the Carinthian Football Association will be elected today (7 pm) at Lakeside Park. Will the current interim boss Martin Mutz extend his term by four years? Or will ex-professional Manfred Mertel throw him off the throne?

Who will be the new association president? Manfred Mertel (left) or Martin Mutz (right).(Bild: Honorar)

Carinthia's soccer connoisseurs whispered to the "Krone" what they expect from the new head.

GAK head coach Gernot Messner: "Compared to Styria, we are lagging far behind in Carinthia in terms of infrastructure - we have too few pitches and halls. We need to take action."

Former team star Martin Hinteregger: "Apart from the two Bundesliga clubs, Carinthian soccer plays no role, it's non-existent! We don't have a second division club, only relegation-threatened regional league clubs and the quality in the Carinthian league is so poor that we'll never be able to compete in the regional league. That's also a problem with young talent. It's also far too expensive for most clubs to strengthen themselves with academy players. That's where the levers have to be pulled."

Klagenfurt legends among themselves: Walter Koch with Walter Ludescher.(Bild: Kuess)

Coaching legend Walter Ludescher: "The state invests just over a million euros a year in the two academies - but very few consistent Bundesliga players have emerged in recent years. The clubs need to give Carinthian players better opportunities. The KFV needs to do more about that!"

Ex-professional Walter "Dago" Koch: "The KFV has worked seriously, but has never attracted attention. We have a sports ground crisis - to fix it, the new boss must have good connections to politicians and a network for investors!"

Klagenfurt's academy manager Robert Micheu (left).(Bild: Rojsek-Wiedergut Uta)

Austrias AKA head Robert Micheu: "I expect the new president to rethink the LAZ location in Klagenfurt. Because otherwise our academy will take talent away from each other."

Walter Kogler, Managing Director of the WAC Academy (right).(Bild: F. Pessentheiner)

Walter Kogler, head of the WAC AKA: "The new boss must be someone who gets on well with all clubs and who connects - that's the most important thing! "

Former WAC captain Michael Sollbauer.(Bild: GEPA pictures)

Rapid professional Michael Sollbauer: "The good work of former president Klaus Mitterdorfer must be continued. Important: Improve the infrastructure so that the kids have good conditions - and above all, we need more artificial pitches."

So a lot of work awaits the new strong man in Carinthian soccer. . .