In our columns (La Provence of April 26, 2020), Romain Philippoteaux proclaimed his “want to extend his contract (which then ran until June 2022) for a year and end his career in Nîmes.” This summer, “negotiations had been carried out in this direction with the management of the club“, he rejoiced. Now here he is in Brest today. How did we come to this?
The now ex-Croco confides at length to Provence. He delivers his truth, by recalling, first, the chronology of the facts which goes back to the month of November 2019 with a first concrete offer from the Dallas club to secure the services of the left midfielder of Nîmes Olympique against an indemnity of 500,000 euros. “But Nîmes told me, then, that I would only leave for 650,000 euros., says Romain Philippoteaux. From then on, I decided to stay (also read “La Provence” from November 18, 2019), and I did it all the more naturally as I did not see myself leaving the team in the midst of the struggle for maintenance. On the other hand, at that time, Nîmes promises me that if Dallas makes an offer again in June (2020), I could go free. An eventuality that was again assured to me, during confinement, by Reda Hammache (the sports director of the NO).“
Precisely, the Dallas club returned to the charge last June, “and with an even better offer“, specifies Philippoteaux who therefore told Hammache.”There he said to me: ‘I have indeed given you my word, but it is not I who decides; last is the president ‘, relates the player. The Dallas offer is therefore again refused. At the same time, during a frank discussions with Jérôme Arpinon, the latter let me know that he really wants to keep me and that the club would not be opposed to an extension and a revaluation. That necessarily interested me. I agreed in principle. Moreover, during the training course in Albertville (July 19-24), I had an appointment on this subject with the coach and Reda Hammache. The latter certifies me, looking me in the eye, that he had the approval of the president (Rani Assaf) to extend me and revalue me.“
But things did not go as planned. Author of a full match, for the opening of the championship (August 23) against Brest (irony of history), Philippoteaux disillusioned, just after, learning that “the president, ultimately no longer wants to extend (it).” “I fell from the clouds, says the native of Apt. It is a firm decision, despite Jérôme Arpinon who worked a lot to ensure that the operation could be successful. He was committed to me; he went to the end and he didn’t cheat. In fact, for the president and Reda Hammache, a word does not count, when there is nothing written. Reda Hammache even told me, eye to eye. I then replied: ‘In accordance with the education I have received, the word makes man.’ From that moment on, I could no longer stay in Nîmes in such conditions. The spring was broken. I was betrayed because I had accepted the club’s proposals and I never cheated. Moreover, my performances, whether in January-February or this summer, are there to testify. I was really disappointed with the behavior of the leaders. In fact, they bought time and maybe they didn’t think I was going to find a club, in case of no extension. In fact, what was it? From a salary increase of 5,000 euros per month, just to mark the occasion, because I, what I wanted, above all, was to extend a year to finish in Nîmes.”
Arrived in July 2019, Romain Philippoteaux will have finally stayed a little over a year in the NO. Last week, the Vauclusien (32 years old), who turned late pro (24 years old) in Dijon before moving to Lorient, then to Auxerre, joined Stade Brestois, a club which, after hearing about his personal situation in Nîmes quickly reached an agreement with the Provencal player. “For me it’s a new experience, appreciate the latter. The speech went very well with Greg Lorenzi (the sports coordinator). The club is very structured. We feel that he is giving himself all the necessary means to really progress.“In Finistère, Romain Philippoteaux finds Olivier Dall’Oglio who launched him as a pro in Dijon (between 2013 and 2015).
“Before leaving, would like to emphasize Philippoteaux, out of respect, I explained my situation to Jérôme Arpinon, because he was fair. This is not the case for everyone at the club. In fact, I even have the feeling that Reda Hammache did not really want me to stay and that he wanted to recruit other left midfielders. The most annoying thing about this story is that I read untruths about myself, evoking ‘moods’. I was thus made to pass for a mercenary and a traitor, because I had promised to stay in Nîmes, when it was the club’s management team that was not correct or honest. But the damage has been done and I suffered insults from some supporters who do not know the truth. They threw up on me. Too bad, it’s like that; it does not matter. Me, I have a clear conscience. Unlike some at the club, I can look at myself in the mirror. In any case, I want to thank the supporters of Nîmes Olympique. When it was tough last season, they were always behind us. I experienced incredible atmospheres in Costières. I made friends in Nîmes. I worked with great teammates. It’s a shame to have ended this beautiful story this way. I wanted to say goodbye correctly; it would have been an honor for me.“
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