Rauball to rouse Dortmund
Monday, November 15, 2004
Article summary
Dr Reinhard Rauball is the new president of BV Borussia Dortmund on a weekend of mixed news for the club.
Article body
Large debt
Nearly all of Dortmund's 1,745 members voted for Rauball who was confirmed as their new figurehead after a six-hour meeting yesterday. The lawyer takes over a club almost €120m in debt having previously been at the helm from 1979-82 and 1984-86. Niebaum had been the longest-serving president in the Bundesliga but opted to stand down after coming in for consistent criticism. He will remain at the Westfalenstadion as managing director.
Back in training
There was more good news for Dortmund supporters as they learned that Metzelder would be staying on. The 24-year-old German international has not played for 18 months since rupturing an achilles tendon but hopes to be back early next year after returning to light training this month.
Debut agony
Metzelder will no doubt offer support to Patrick Kohlmann who suffered a serious injury on his debut against 1. FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday. If knee ligament damage is confirmed, the 21-year-old left-back is expected to be sidelined for several months.
