"Messi" high on the agenda

English club inquires with Spittal coach

Gernot Messner once played in England as a player on trial.(Bild: GEPA)

It has been just over a month since coach Gernot Messner was sacked by Bundesliga club GAK. Now a club from England has shown interest in the Spittal native. The work permit could be an obstacle to a possible engagement. . .

That would be a real bombshell! Following his dismissal from GAK, Gernot Messner received an inquiry from the motherland of soccer. More precisely, from League One - the third-highest division in England. "That was surprising! England would be great, of course," emphasizes the 44-year-old, who did not want to reveal the club yet. He is still in contact with his management.

Gernot Messner was surprised by the request from England.(Bild: GEPA)

Plenty of traditional clubs in the third division
With Bolton Wanderers, Wigan and Barnsley - which has brought in three coaches from the Bundesliga in Gerhard Struber, Markus Schopp and Valerien Ismael - there are all traditional clubs there. The island would not be new territory for "Messi". As an active player, he was on trial at Arsenal and Nottingham.

Work permit could be an obstacle
However, employment could also be difficult. Since Brexit, people outside the UK need a work permit. For this, Messner would have to have coached in the Bundesliga for two years, so far it has only been just under four months - but there are plenty of exceptions.

From Uzbekistan to England
In 2022, for example, Shota Arveladze made the leap from the Uzbek league - which is not even included in the regulations! - to second division side Hull. A work permit could therefore be possible via an exceptional committee or the British Home Office.