Only two N1 clubs have the right to access the Proligue: Caen and Villeurbanne. If they submit to the financial requirements, they will move up regardless of their ranking.
Posted on 19 Sep 20 at 13:21
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The championship of National 1, which begins this Saturday, September 19, 2020, is made up of several hens including one called “Elite”. It is she who issues the two tickets for the Proligue, the second French division. However, not everyone can claim it. To be promotable, a certain number of administrative and financial criteria must be respected, ranging from a minimum budget to a medical structure, including at least five full-time professional players.
Only the application of these various constraints, far from being obvious at the third national level, makes it possible to obtain the famous VAP status (Pathway to Professionalism). However, the rise concerns the first two “VAP” of the classification. This season, alone Caen and Villeurbanne benefit from this status which they have sought hard. Others lost it or, like Vernon, were demoted to Nationale 2. Hence our question: is Caen Handball already in Proligue?
Read also: Handball. Deprived of its last preparation matches, Caen forced to “adapt”
A fight first in the offices
Thomas Lamora’s response was not long in coming. “No, insists the Caen president. Caen Handball simply has the right to apply for the climb. We only took the first step. But on this subject, the battle to be waged is not on the ground.
We are facing a big challenge: the budget. If we do not manage to meet the minimum budget, we will be the ones who could have gone to Proligue.
Read also: Handball – Caen HB. “With experienced players, it is better to distrust than trust”
This is where the subtlety of the criteria for acquiring VAP status lies. If it takes 600,000 euros to have it, 350,000 more are necessary to evolve in Proligue. “In Proligue, you need at least nine full-time professional contracts and a budget of 950,000 euros”, among other things. It is therefore in the offices that it will be necessary to work.
Caen will start its season this Saturday, September 19, 2020 (8:30 p.m.) in Colombelles, the Palais des Sports being unavailable due to the Caen Fair. The Vikings, big favorites of the year that is soaring, will receive Pau.
Read also: Handball. Jordan Allais: “Going up if you finish third is of no interest”
“Our future is linked to the athlete”
Handball is no exception to the rule which makes money the sinews of war at high level. But it anticipates the financial needs inherent in a change of dimension. “Our future is linked to the athlete, believes Thomas Lamora. It is because we will perform in the field that we will be able to ask our partners to support us more. VAP status does not give checks! In addition, the comfort of being assured of having a ticket to the Proligue has its downside.
We have a lot more pressure than the others. Every weekend we are going to face wild teams.
Read also: Handball. The Vikings of Caen HB prepare to be the team to beat
Teams who will only play for glory. “If it were so easy to take the big step, there would be 15 VAP clubs! When money becomes as important as an athlete, you have to be financially efficient. Stade Malherbe reminded us of this not so long ago. ”
“A false debate”
Entering this “handball economy” when it rose to the Proligue in 2015 (the Pro D2 had just left the amateur world to go under the cup of the National Handball League, which renamed it), the Caen Handball s ‘hangs on it. His budget of almost 800,000 euros is the fruit of work that does not only concern Roch Bedos and his players. Still a resident of Pré-Nationale a little over ten years ago, Caen has structured itself to be invited back to the table of professional sport. He is keen on it.
The goal is also for the players to make a living from it. This operation preserves their interest.
Read also: Handball. Romain Guillard (Caen HB): “A CV and a status have never scored goals”
The fact remains that Caen, like Villeurbanne, could evolve in the Proligue next season having finished tenth in National 1. Disturbing? “It is a false debate, assures Thomas Lamora. You have to win to rekindle the flame. What interests people is our performance. The rest is played out behind the scenes. As for other professional clubs, finally.
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