Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim have announced that they have parted ways with their Sporting Director Hansi Flick.

“Following internal talks in January, it became clear that there were different perceptions of Hansi Flick’s role at the club,” explained TSG’s chief financial backer Dietmar Hopp in an official statement on the club website. “As a small club playing in a professional environment, we rely on making the best possible use of all our opportunities, which requires those in senior management positions to feel comfortable, so that they can work efficiently.”

Hoffenheim offered Flick a new position as an advisor, but the former German national team assistant coach and sporting director of the German FA (DFB) turned down the same. “We would have liked to keep Hansi Flick on in some advisory function,” Hopp told. “Hansi gave a detailed explanation of his motives, which of course we respect. We regret this development as much as Hansi. Despite that, we believe the decision that has now been made to be the right one.”

Speaking about the decision, Flick stated: “Dietmar Hopp and I have had lots of private discussions recently. We agreed to keep it confidential and let it all sink in first before meeting once more. Now we have come to the mutual agreement that we will end our cooperation.”