Pelle Prestberg is forced to move

Färjestad makes changes in the management staff.

Sportbladet was able to reveal that the icon Pelle Prestberg is forced to move despite having one year left on his contract.

– Of course it’s very boring. I hadn’t received any indications of that at all, says Prestberg.

Färjestad has been running as usual during the week with pre-season training and Prestberg has been on site. But yesterday afternoon he was called to a meeting with sports director Rickard Wallin and head coach Tomas Mitell.

There was the straight message that they wanted to make a change and that Prestberg was no longer desirable:

– They told us that they want a different structure on the leadership staff. You must have respect for wanting to do something. If it doesn’t feel good for the person who has the main responsibility (Mitell), something must be done, says Prestberg, who is disappointed but also collected:

– That’s how it works in the hockey world, I know that, I’ve been around for so long. But of course sad to leave, I have been here for many years as a player and manager. The last few years in a role as a leader and has been involved in taking SM gold.

Färjestad fell heavily with 0–4 in the quarter-finals against Rögle, after winning the regular season in superb style.

It was the second year in a row that the Karlstad team went to the quarter-finals, after the successful play-off in 2022 when they won gold. Tomas Mitell came in then and became gold coach immediately with Thomas Rhodin and Pelle Prestberg by his side.

In January last year, Färjestad announced that both Prestberg and Rhodin had extended their contracts with Färjestad until 2025. At the same time, Tomas Mitell’s current contract also expires.

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Have turned over every stone

But now it is clear that Pelle Prestberg will not remain in the FBK booth.

– Of course it’s very boring. I haven’t been given any indication of that at all, so it came as a bit of a surprise. We’ve still started the season and so on.

– But I feel secure in what I have done in terms of work. It’s been great fun being a coach, and getting into it. I have enjoyed the role of assistant and we have completed a process, so it feels a little strange not to be able to stay.

Sports director Rickard Wallin has turned over every stone in the search for improvement potential for the coming season, and it was Prestberg who had to move on for another coach.

Pelle Prestberg entered the 2020/21 season when Gereon Dahlgren was fired. He has previously worked as a coach for individual development in the association.

However, Prestberg plans to continue as coach:

– I am open to other suggestions and want to continue with this.

What are you doing tonight?

– I’m going down to Gothenburg. Eat a little good and hopefully feel a little better.