After the premature end of the championship and the decision of the national authorities to keep the club in Ligue 1, Nîmes Olympique starts preparing for the new season. She will probably go through a new trainer and some recruitments for “improve the group“, explains Reda Hammache, the sports director of the NO, who opened up to our editorial staff.
At Nîmes Olympique, we have started to get used to it since last year: the off-season is the opportunity to see Coach Blaquart spreading in the press. Lack of resources, random and late recruitment, etc. Often disillusioned, the magician of Costières however held out last season and during the winter, he even managed to chain the victories with his team and save the club from a descent in Ligue 2 which would have hurt.
Logically absent during confinement, Bernard Blaquart is back on the front of the stage. And he decided to hang up once and for all from the bench of Crocos. He is now waiting for a meeting with his president Rani Assaf to officially announce it.
“It is not a surprise”, Reda Hammache, the sports director, immediately announced to our editorial staff and continued: “It’s been six months since he announced it. There’s nothing new under the sun.” Information confirmed by a source close to the players who validates: “Bernard Blaquart also announced it to the players last week. It’s over, he will no longer be the coach.”
In reality, things are not so simple, because Bernard Blaquart is still under contract with Nîmes Olympique for three years (June 2023). He therefore wants to know his destiny within the club. Reason why he impatiently awaits a meeting with Rani Assaf.
“They both discussed the aftermath informally several months ago. Bernard would like to stay at Nîmes Olympique and retrain. He wants to know if it still holds.” according to a source familiar with the matter. The president and the coach are going to have to find common ground and that promises not to be easy.
Especially since the coach’s media outings are considered clumsy and make people cringe: “When you want to leave, you quit. For months and months he kept saying that he was worn out, tired. It’s true that the first six months of last season left their mark.” , explains our source.
But who now to replace him? Several names are already circulating, potential external coaches, in particular from Ligue 1 and from abroad. But also that of Bernard Blaquart’s assistant, Jérôme Arpinon. “The two theories are equal”, relates Reda Hammache, who claims not to have made up his mind. “I discussed this with Bernard. I refuse to consider his replacement until his departure is official.” But the current assistant of Bernard Blaquart “would not be unanimous among the workforce“, according to someone close to the club. Like any coach, obviously, faced with sporting choices.
However, the sporting director seems to have already thought about the question: “A new coach is a change. This group really needs a change, I do not believe it. It has its faults and its qualities but the team above all needs stability.”
Jérôme Arpinon therefore seems perfectly suited to fulfill this mission. “Not necessarily. Even if I want to be in continuity, it can go through another coach. What is certain is that I refuse the arrival of a new coach with the whole armada of new staff . I do not want a revolution. The sports staff in place deserve to continue the work undertaken for several years “, adds Reda Hammache who during our interview has already received several texts from potential coaches interested in taking up the challenge in Nîmes. “I am not refusing applications but I am refusing to study anything for the moment”, reaffirms the sports director certain of his approach.
And also: transfer window with Reda Hammache, the sports director:
- Recruitment this year? : “It will settle in the next few days. I have a short-list three or four priority players to join the current group. But our desire today is to keep the backbone of the team with our main players. “
- Bernardoni in Montpellier? : “This is false. These rumors only serve to fuel the press and the Internet. What I can tell you is that we will fight to keep it. with us, but the reality is that today, the amount requested by Bordeaux is too high. Discussions are open for a new loan even if the player, very attached to Nîmes, wants a final contract. “
- Any other leads for Bernardoni? : “Angers is interested in him but today they have a managerial goalkeeper (Editor’s note: the former Nîmes Ludovic Butelle) who still has two years of contract. Not sure they are taking the plunge this year. “
- Lucas Buades ? “We are about to sign an agreement.”
- Anthony Briançon in Montpellier? :“I have not received any offers from Montpellier and I do not think I am wrong in saying that the player is ready to stay.”
- Renaud Ripart? : “As for Briançon, the player should stay with us next season.”
- Yassine Benrahou? : “It hasn’t been done yet. We’re thinking for the moment, whether it’s us or the player.”
Abdel Samari (with Corentin Corger and Norman Jardin)
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