Relegation – Lok Leipzig against Havelse: Two games for a better future

When Toni Wachsmuth takes a look at the empty Bruno Plache Stadium the day before the big game, fire protection sheets are being installed on the old wooden stands-an edition of the DFB before the relegation’s first leg for promotion to the 3rd division. This Wednesday, the 1st FC Lokomotive Leipzig in Probstheida receives the master of the Regionalliga Nord, TSV Havelse. On the Sunday after the second leg it is clear who can play in paid football next season.

Traditional association with radiance

Since the relegation of locomotive predecessor VfB Leipzig from the Oberliga in 2000, the “Loksche” has had a quarter of a century of construction work, including a new foundation in the 3rd district class. “The first German champion would return to professional football – more historical scope for the club, for the whole city is not possible,” says sports director Wachsmuth. “Of course that would be an absolute milestone, and we have a huge chance to go this way.” He himself is one of the key figures for the upswing of the blue-yellow. Born in Thuringia, who himself played football in Jena, Cottbus, Chemnitz and Zwickau and then became a manager in 2019, has been living in Leipzig for ten years. At the beginning he was only sporadic at Lok, but when he came into conversation with ex-President Torsten Kracht in autumn 2023, Wachsmuth appealed the aura of the traditional club-“this fan base, this radiance that this club simply has”.

In the spring of 2024 Wachsmuth started as a sporting consultant, Lok played a disappointing season as the tenth of the Regionalliga Nordost, but set up a new spectator record. A sign for the now 38-year-old that the club lives and only needs new sporting orientation. In July Wachsmuth officially became sports director. He had already done his most important task, the early commitment of coach Jochen Seitz in April 2024.

Trainer as an insider tip

The former Bundesliga professional Seitz was an insider tip as a coach at Bayern regional league Viktoria Aschaffenburg. “It was very important to me to have a strong team of character and create a team feeling. To do this, we needed a trainer who absolutely prescribes and permanently demands, “says Wachsmuth,” someone who lives and fits Lok Leipzig and fits the league who spends a clear plan and a clear structure. “With the help of his network, Wachsmuth found exactly this coaching types with which he then initiated the upheaval in the team with 13 new players.

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The success duo dealt intensively with the characters – and found players who are now standing for each other in Leipzig. “We have justified the key positions not only to get sporting quality, but also to bring character strength.” To get a functioning axis around, a stable team grew that conceded the fewest conceded goals in the league.

Before the season, Lok was a candidate for places six to eight with a budget of around three million euros, and the favorite role as the relegated Hallescher FC, Chemnitzer FC, Greifswalder FC and Carl Zeiss Jena held. “We were the negative surprise the previous season, now we have decided to become the positive,” says Wachsmuth and smiles. “It was successful, we can make a catch behind it.”

Relegations despite the championship

But despite the championship and the victory in the state cup last Saturday against third division Erzgebirge Aue before the record scenery of more than 12,000 fans, Lok has to happen the relegation in order to finally arrive in third class. The prerequisites for this have been working in full swing for months. In June, the time -honored lawn will be removed and auctioned in the “Bruno”. For around 1.5 million euros, as required in league three, a lawn heating is installed, more seating and press places are created- even if it does not work with the climb.

Wachsmuth will also secure a piece of lawn for your own garden. Just like the many loyal fans, most of whom come from the east of the city and the surrounding area, including many young people. “We don’t just have a certain fan leader, this is a cross -section of society in which all positive and negative topics of our society are reflected,” says Martin Mieth. At that time, the managing director, in the club since 2013, played a major role in banning right -wing extremists from the stadium – board members were under police protection.

Hard work at Lok

Nowadays it says on a gang in the stadium: “Really Keen Bock on racism.” Nobody in the six -member team of businesses can guarantee that there will be no unattractive incidents in the future. However, it is crucial that the club management has been clearly positioned against racism for years and that important educational work co -organized. U15 players have been relocating stumbling blocks for years, and last year actors from the association took part in workshops about dealing with racism and discrimination. “You need stamina and clear values ​​that we anchored in 2015,” says Mieth about change in the fan scene. Lok is on the right track with a lot of hard work – not just on the lawn.