Drobny to leave relegated Berlin

(GSM) – Czech goalkeeper Jaroslav Drobny has confirmed that he will be leaving Hertha BSC following their relegation to the second tier, 2.Bundesliga, this season.

The 30-year-old’s contract is due to expire this summer, and he has no intention of extending his contract to play in the second division next season.

“We have not accepted Hertha’s offer and Jaro will be leaving the club,” his agent, Lars Baumgarten, told Bild.

With Drobny’s departure, who is looking for a new club, Berlin on the lookout for a new custodian for next season.

“We had set Jaro a deadline and that has now passed,” Berlin’s general manager Michael Preetz. “We tried all we could and could not do any more than we did.”

Preetz is set for a busy few weeks as he must also find a new coach following the decision not to extend the contract of Friedhelm Funkel.

Markus Babbel admitted on Friday he would be willing to discuss an offer and Preetz believes the new man should be in place very soon.

“We are not going to rush things, but we are in talks and I am optimistic,” he told the Berliner Zeitung newspaper. “There won’t be an announcement this week, but that could be different next week.”