The former president of the Toulon Rugby Club and Claude Joye, current owner of the Toulon Sporting Club, laid the foundations for a future collaboration. An audit of the situation in the Toulon club could bring a positive outcome before the end of the month.
From our correspondent in Toulon
After resuscitating the Phoenix Rugby Club Toulonnais, triple European champion (2013,2014 and 2015) and French champion (2014), Mourad Boudjellal has launched a new major challenge in recent weeks: the revival of the Toulon Sporting Club . The former comic tycoon dreams of bringing La Rascasse back into professional football, who left since 1998.
For the “Latest project of [s]for life”, according to his remarks in Le Figaro, Boudjellal was first faced with a categorical refusal by the owner, Claude Joye. The initial interviews were heated, prompting MB to suggest that he could embark on other projects. He then prepared a program to run for the presidency of the National Rugby League. And, according to our information, the acquisition of Athlético de Marseille (N3) is very advanced. “I only have to sign in another project if I wish, assures Mourad Boudjellal without confirming the identity of the club. The project is more global with a stadium and real estate. “
But the club in his hometown remains his priority. “Clearly, I’m waiting for Toulon”, he repeats. On the phone, he talks about his ambitions with the flame in his voice: “It’s inexplicable, but I owe the city a debt. I have to prove here since my childhood. ” Cold during the first weeks of negotiations with Claude Joye, the confinement linked to Covid-19 seems to have cleared up the clashes.
Boudjellal would arrive with a pulse of investors and Pascal Dupraz
The two men met with their lawyers last Friday in Toulon for a scheduled meeting “crucial” in the mysteries of the club. Contrary to the last discussions, the interview was very positive. Mourad Boudjellal recalled his great desire to acquire the club. In this process, Joye changed her initial positions. He agreed that the accounts of the club undergo an audit, an act prior to a change of owner. This audit should last between four and five days. According to our information, the result could fall around May 25.
READ ALSO : Mourad Boudjellal at Figaro: “I am on two great projects in football”
Since the beginnings of an interest in Mourad Boudjellal for the resumption of the SCT, the chartered accountant by training has experienced hard knocks. Embarking on a nightmarish season (a single victory over the entire season), the vox populi of the Bon-Rencontre stadium has spoken out in favor of a change in governance. A banner “S.O.S Mourad”, deployed at home on January 10 against the Red Star (1-0 defeat), made an impression. Membership players, who are expected to undergo major changes in the event of a takeover, and private partners are enthusiastic about “The idea of experiencing a new era” according to someone close to the club. In a series of publications on Twitter, Hubert Falco, mayor of Toulon since 2001 and re-elected in the first round last March, hoped that an agreement would be found so that Mourad Boudjellal “Brings his knowledge, his will, which is great, and his skills”.
READ ALSO : Mayor Hubert Falco advocates a rapprochement between Boudjellal and the Sporting Club Toulon
Last disappointment dated Monday, the executive committee of the FFF validated the relegations of the last four of the National. Red lantern, the Rade club will progress to National 2 next year. All these adventures propelled Claude Joye into a position of weakness. Mourad Boudjellal knows this and is delighted. He intends to revolutionize the Azur et Or. “If I manage to take over the Sporting Club Toulon, I am not coming to do the same thing as currently.” In his suitcase, he plans to bring a group of investors to build a budget close to 4 million euros next season. Proof of the progress of the discussions, a visit to the SCT facilities (stadium, premises, grounds) was scheduled this week with his group of investors. The financial windfall would be consistent with one condition: the money injected must not be used to cover a liability. Claude Joye is confident about his financial management. The audit will provide the final answer.
On the sporting side, Pascal Dupraz, current coach of SM Caen (L2), has already given his agreement in principle to take over from Victor Zvunka, on the start after having failed in his quest for maintenance. The former SCT player (1987-1989) kept strong ties with the region, regularly spending his holidays in La Cadière-d´Azur, a village some 20 km west of Toulon. Without confirming, Mourad Boudjellal realizes the robot portrait of his dream trainer: “He has to stand up to me, he has to be long-term, he must be credible in telling us a great story.”
In concert, the possible new management team is already working to shape the contours of the next workforce. They have planned about fifteen departures and wish to rely on three pillars, having had experience at a high level, with the aim of quickly reaching the next level.
Mourad Boudjellal wants to build a solid defense. To shed light on the project, he does not refrain from a bowhead like the arrival of Tana Umaga at the RCT, then in ProD2, in 2006. The name of Bafétimbi Gomis, born in La Seyne- sur-Mer and very attached to the region, comes back frequently. “I am in contact with agents, only confirms Mourad Boudjelllal. And some players could be almost promised for Sporting. ” Behind the scenes, he admits having followed the club’s season and already knows the players to rely on. Despite its ambitions, “MB” does not exclude “A transition season” if the negotiations continue over time. And continues: “A transition season where the objective will be to climb (to laugh). We could be the beast to slaughter because we would shine. “
Boudjellal doesn’t want to share power
Friday’s meeting was therefore constructive, but points of divergence persist. In private, and at the meeting, Boudjellal made it clear that he wanted a free hand. The club’s future governance is the main sticking point. When the club was bought in 2011, Claude Joye had made this project a family affair. Christine, his wife, and Lawrence, his son, occupy strategic and senior positions within the club. In fact, they could be the equal or even superiors of the former president of the RCT.
An almost unthinkable solution: “I partnered up twice when I was in publishing with Gallimard and Marvel. As far as sport is concerned, it has always been very delicate (Stéphane Lelièvre in 2006 and Bernard Lemaître in 2019). With my age, I begin to understand that I am a loner (to laugh). “ Before agreeing: “I understand the family attachment that Claude can have with the club since I had the same at the RCT. But sometimes you have to know how to pass your hand like I did. ”
Right now, Mourad Boudjellal wants power. A “Non-negotiable thing” according to his words. To achieve a consensus, he is ready to reserve shares for Claude Joye, who would have management control over the accounts. “If I fail, warns “MB”, it will be my image and my failure. Not Claude Joye’s. “ Despite the differences, the two men are trying to communicate after cutting their relationships. The outcome of the financial audit could play an important role in deciding the new governance.
“It can be done in 48 hours. With this audit, we both made a very important step ”
Mourad Boudjellal
Another point of attachment, the future of Jean-Marc Ferreri. The current general manager sees his Var idyll troubled. Claude Joye would like to keep his trusted man since his takeover in the Var organization chart. Mourad Boudjellal is not really inclined to work with the former French international, European champion in 1984. His opinion is shared by Pascal Dupraz. His last missed mercatos and the choice to appoint Victor Zvunka as first team coach do not speak in his favor. According to a source among the club, Jean-Marc Ferreri already seems resigned and knows that he will only be a transitional man in the event of a takeover.
A recovery on which depends mainly the result of the audit around May 25. If it is positive, it will only remain to finalize the case at the end of the month: “It can be done in 48 hours, adds Mourad Boudjellal. With this audit, we both made a very important step. ”
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