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Tadej Apatič on the reasons for the surprising farewell of Damjan Gajser, who is no longer coach of Beltinci: “Communication was not as we would have liked”

Published on 10. October 2024 10. October 2024

Photo: Blaž Weindorfer / Sportida

Yesterday, Beltinci surprised the football community with the news that coach Damjan Gajser is departing. The 54-year-old strategist has led the team since the 2021/22 season, when he took over a squad fighting for survival. In his first season, he achieved the goal, and Beltinci finished the football year in 12th place. The goal for the 2022/23 season remained the same, but the former player of Mura knew his team was capable of more. That year, the Prekmurci finished in 5th place, collecting 44 points, and the club’s leaders were more than satisfied with the results, wanting to keep Gajser at all costs in the Beltinci forest.

In the third, or last season, the team’s transformation was further refined. The Beltinci team did not start the season well; after the first five rounds, they had gathered 7 points, but then followed a 10-match unbeaten streak. At that point, the Prekmurci began to realize they could reach even higher than in the previous season.

They fought for the top positions until the 30th round, by which time they might have unnecessarily lost points that would have been very useful. The 2023/24 season ended for Beltinci in 3rd place with 56 points, just two points behind the second-placed Nafta and four behind Primorje, which celebrated the championship title. This was certainly the best season for Beltinci since they have been in the 2.SNL since the 2018/19 season, so Gajser’s mark in Beltinci, as stated on the club’s website, will remain indelible.

Tadej Apatič: “There have been no discussions about a new coach yet”

In the meantime, the team will be led by the current assistant Blaž Krauthaker, while the club’s sports director Tadej Apatič explained to Sobotainfo why the surprising termination of cooperation occurred.

Damjan Gajser, coach of Beltinci — Photo: Nik Moder / Sportida

“Our decision was primarily influenced by the fact that the views between the head coach and the club management had diverged in recent times. Communication, which has not been what we would have liked at all levels lately, was also key. All this forced the club’s management to reflect, and in the end, a unanimous decision was made that it would be best for the continuation of the championship and the operation and development of the club to seek a mutual termination of cooperation with the current head coach Damjan Gajser. I can assure you that nothing regarding professionalism or any professional issues in the field of sports work influenced this decision,” said Tadej Apatič, who also shared some insights regarding solutions concerning the new coach.

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“As for the names of candidates or successors… This move was not planned in advance, so there have been no discussions regarding the new coach yet. We believe that it is sufficient for the team to be led by the current assistant for the short term. Of course, everything will depend on the team’s response, but I believe that the players’ reaction will be as positive as possible. This would also give the club’s management much more time to think and engage in more detailed discussions and agreements to bring in at least a similar expert in the sports field and knowledge as Damjan has, especially with an improved version regarding the relationship with the management and others in the club,” explained the sports director of the Prekmurje club about the decisions on who will succeed Gajser.

Beltinci will face an away match in Dekani on Saturday, which may already show how the team has accepted the management’s surprising decision. Currently, the team is in 4th place with 16 points, trailing the leading Gorica by 5 points. (vm)