[Interview] The wishes of President Bernard Canard (+ Video)

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Piero: Hello President, cow are you in these difficult times of pandemic, curfew …
Bernard Canard: “Personally, I’m doing perfectly well. My businesses have been taking a lot of my time for 1 year so I absolutely do not notice the curfew because I am at work all the time. The pandemic unfortunately affects me personally, and even more my wife, having lost my mother-in-law at the end of December… It is a difficult period and few families are not affected in one way or another… We must return to the faster to a normal life and it is the priority wish of this new year. “

On the occasion of the new year, could you give us a little feedback on your feelings of last season when the FCG played the leading roles before a sudden end of the championship …
“It’s a feeling of pride to have been first for a long time and to have had an exceptional start to the season! The match we lose against Auxerre B at home allows them to be restarted with this scenario where we do not take the point of the draw in the last moments (note: match to relive by clicking here). If we win this match or if we keep the point of a draw, I remain convinced that we would be in N2… Then, the championship ends 7 or 8 days from the end and even if it would have been complicated, a victory at Auxerre we too would have relaunched … “

This season, the team has been able to stay in the leading group and have made us vibrate at home, especially against the Sochaux reserve …
“Yes, we had a good start to the season outside the Coupe de France. I have confidence in the group which has just been strengthened and we are aiming for the top of the ranking. The match against Sochaux B (editor’s note: relive the match on video) is Auxerre B’s match from last season but we won this time… It was a great match for the team! “

In the meantime, there have been a lot of readjustments in the workforce! Proof that the FCG’s ambition is still there?
“Yes, we absolutely had to stay within the dynamics of last season and the recruitment was made according to our ambitions with a few departures and several arrivals… (note: the transfer window to find here). “

The club is also progressing at the level of the Academy, Hopes, Women …
“All the teams and structures of the club are progressing and although we talk a lot about our National 3 team, we remain ambitious for the whole club with satisfactory results and progress. We absolutely have to keep this momentum, but we miss the competition and we can’t wait to compete with other clubs. “

There is also an outstanding point regarding the maintenance of the VF. What can you tell us about this?
“I would like to thank the town hall which granted an exceptional subsidy to the club to end the season and finance the maintenance of the plain as accurately as possible, it is a first step. Negotiations are underway and I hope that we will find lasting solutions for the future… It is vital if we want to be ambitious and attract young people! ”

Gueugnon can also rely on its volunteers who come from various backgrounds …
” Yes ! More and more associations are sounding the alarm on the lack of volunteers… We are fortunate in Gueugnon to have a large number of volunteers with new ones arriving and in the end, everyone finds their place and feels good in the club. In short, thank you to our volunteers who keep this club alive. “

The FCG has recently been well rated by the CRCC, the equivalent of the DNCG at League level. Is it a feeling of pride?
“Yes, that’s pride! The sporting ambition and the increase in the budget does not happen by itself. We work a lot at the club and I take this opportunity to send a big thank you to Christophe Noluveau as well as to Guillaume Avinain and Thomas Dumont for the development of our UFA, for the permanent search for partners, the aid to which we may be entitled etc … Making a budget is very complicated but since 2011 and at no time has the club been in danger… You have to manage and anticipate. “

Are you worried about this partnership aspect with this new stop of the championship?
“The partners are with us for the most part but I remain relatively worried for the coming season if we do not quickly resume the path of competition …”

Is it a complicated period to manage without precise visibility for the resumption of the championships?
“Fortunately we can train so that there is a lesser evil. However, training does not replace competition but we hope to be ready when we are told to leave. The last visibility we have would be a championship that would resume in March but it is long, very long… The competition must absolutely start again at the end of February or the beginning of March to try to finish this championship, even if it means ending it at the end of June 2021… Nothing does not object to my knowledge at the end of the season later than usual … “

How is club life going now?
“Despite the context, things are going well. Even if we all miss the weekend games, we try to keep a life in the club even though it remains difficult because we have little visibility. The deadlines are pushed back each time… I don’t blame anyone, the government is doing what it can with the development of this pandemic. Far too many people criticize without knowing, far too many people speak without knowing, far too many interveners scramble the messages, the population is tired and lost… ”

However, the goals remain the same?
“Yes, my objective is to resume competition is to seek the rise in National 2”

It’s the season of the vows, what would you like to say to all those around the FCG?
“Already, I send my wishes for health: protect yourself and do not underestimate this virus which has already brought so much mourning to France and the whole world. However, I wish a happy new year 2021. Everyone believe in better days and stay positive. We absolutely must remain positive and optimistic despite the context. “

Thanks to Piero and President Bernard Canard for this interview!

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