News Focus
- FC St. Pauli drop to the second tier after a 3-1 loss to VfL Wolfsburg
- Captain Jackson Irvine confirms he will honour his remaining one-year contract
- The club finishes bottom of the Bundesliga table with only 26 points
- The Australian midfielder praises fans for their unwavering support during a difficult campaign
FC St. Pauli will compete in the second division next term. The Hamburg-based club suffered relegation from Germany’s top flight on Saturday. They fell to a 3-1 defeat against VfL Wolfsburg in their final match of the season.
Club captain Jackson Irvine described the drop as heartbreaking. The Australian midfielder watched his side finish last in the 18-team table. “I am gutted that our Bundesliga adventure has come to an end,” the 31-year-old told reporters. He vowed that every squad member who remains will strive to secure promotion back to the elite level.
Irvine moved to ease fears about his future immediately after the match. “I still have one year left on my current deal. I plan to stay here. This place feels like home to me. The club holds a special place in my heart,” he confirmed. The midfielder has worn the St. Pauli shirt since 2021.
He reserved special praise for the supporters who stood by the team. “Their backing has been phenomenal despite our relegation. It is truly remarkable. They provided us with tremendous energy throughout the campaign. I apologise that we could not repay their faith with results,” he said.
Irvine admitted the team deserved their fate after a poor campaign. “Twenty-six points from thirty-four matches is not sufficient for this league. When you end up in our position, relegation is fair. We did not perform when it mattered most. The players must accept blame for this. The board must also examine why we found ourselves in this situation,” he concluded.