It is one thing to 'learn' under someone and still another thing to take over a sinking ship and consolidate the club, which he did pretty well over the last few years. Preetz alone got relegated two times? No players, no coaches or other staff members to blame? Sorry, but to say one person alone is at fault for a club going down is making it way too easy, even though he played his part.
Don't get me wrong, I already said he made mistakes in the past. The Babbel story was nothing short of embarrassing, no doubt about that and sacking Favre was not the right thing to do either. Don't really know why it is a bad thing to appoint Rehagel, someone who is as experienced as you can get and known for his discipline, when you are fighting for relegation? In my eyes, Preetz learned from his mistakes and did a good job over the last two seasons, which should be put into consideration instead of still blaming him for errors he made some years ago. You wouldn't judge a players current ability with mistakes or ability he had two or three years ago, would you?
Why don't you think his transfer business isn't laudable or special? Kalou did really well for Lille and Stocker was also a regular for Basel, both got plenty of international experience and certainly had other options. The players I mentioned in my first post are also really good value for the money Hertha spent on them. He also sold Lasogga and Ramos for considerably good fees, especially if you look at how they perform at their new clubs.
He praised Luhukay at the beginning of November and he certainly meant what he said. The thing is, that they played really good for the first half of last season (2013/2014), where Hertha were in 6th place, before playing a really bad second part of the season and dropping to 11th place (only 3 victories in 17 games). Luhukay got the players he asked for over the summer, proven quality and couldn't manage to get the results for another half of the season. The fans were already calling for his head after a few games this season and he backed him until now. So thats nearly one year of bad results and an underperforming team, a lot more time than usual in my eyes. He backed him three months ago and things didn't change, so THEY (because it is not Preetz decision alone) decided that they have to make a cut now, as they are ranked on 17th place at the moment. What's wrong about that? I don't see anything short sighted there and the decision is just being questioned, because he has that reputation from decisions in the past. And yes, he is result oriented, but which board or director of football is not? That's what the business is all about and we just have to look at United last season to see that. And even now some people are or were already questioning van Gaal after a few bad results around new year.
Of course a lot of Hertha fans aren't rating Preetz, but how many directors of football are highly rated by their own supporters? How many of the football fans you actually know really know what they are talking about? In Germany a lot of people questioned Löw before and even now after the World Cup. Does that mean that he doesn't have a clue or is doing a bad job? I wouldn't measure everything based on the opinion of some fans. And yes, Gegenbauer is a reason why Preetz is still there as he seems to rate him. But Gegenbauers fate as president is also dependend on how Preetz is doing, because he backed him several times. Why would he still do that if Preetz is as lousy as you assume?