It was hinted at, and since Tuesday it has been a fact: The United Volleys will no longer serve in the Bundesliga in the coming season.

The leaders of the league (VBL) and the professional team announced this in two messages.

According to this, the VBL does not issue a license to the Frankfurters because they “were unable to prove the necessary economic performance even after granting several grace periods”, as Managing Director Daniel Sattler is quoted as saying.

The Hessians waive an objection.

"This decision was not easy for us," says Managing Director Alexander Korosek.

However, the step is "inevitable" to avert damage to the company, its employees and partners.

This is the end of a sporting success story that began in 2015.

At that time, TG Rüsselsheim made its license available to the new project after climbing to the top floor.

The aim was to present top volleyball on a large stage in the Frankfurt Ball Sports Hall, to move an entire region with the sport, but above all to give young German talents the opportunity to develop to the top level through appearances in the Bundesliga.

On a sporting level, it worked very well: The Hessians finished third in the league four times, made it to the semi-finals of the European CEV Cup in 2017 and once to the Champions League, and crowned their winning streak in 2021 by winning the DVV Cup.

There are many players with a United background in the national team squad.

Despite creative ideas, including a separate TV series, the average number of viewers fell short of expectations.

Sponsors could hardly be enthusiastic.

From the start, Grolsheim entrepreneur Jörg Krick bore almost the entire financial burden: the father of middle blocker Tobias Krick had initiated the project for his then 16-year-old son and put millions into it.

The attempt to spread the burden on several shoulders after the national player's departure to Italy failed.

Only the aviation entrepreneur Korosek, who was previously involved in football, became the main shareholder in 2021.

The past season, in which there was already a point deduction for violating the license requirements for volleys, was financed by state corona aid.

Now Korosek no longer saw a sufficient basis for professional volleyball.

According to Korosek, around 250,000 euros and thus almost half of the already slimmed-down budget were missing.

The managing director himself is said to have committed himself to a contribution of 300,000 euros when he took over 51 percent of Spielbetriebs-GmbH.

According to his own statements, Krick was still involved with 180,000 euros.

The budget used to be around 900,000 euros or higher.

Although there have always been complaints about unpaid bills, Korosek emphasizes that all liabilities will be serviced and there will be no bankruptcy.

The Spielbetriebs-GmbH should continue to exist in cooperation with a lower-class club.

If the project "The Dome" comes about, there could be another attempt to install a men's professional team in the Rhine-Main area.

According to Korosek, the preliminary agreement that has already been concluded secures the financing.

"I'm very disappointed," said coach Christophe Acht.

"Despite a small budget, we had a nice team together." Now he and many players are unemployed, three or four already have new contracts.

"The league has a problem," says the Belgian.

Due to the very high costs for accident insurance for players and taxes, German clubs are at a disadvantage compared to other European clubs.

But the basic problem, the lack of supporters for teams that don't play football, would not be solved either.

"The Volleys actually didn't have any sponsors," sayschten.

"They haven't managed to build anything over the years."