The statement from the Nice municipality requires no comment. The leadership team’s attempt at the club for a “creative finance” style solution did not receive the attention its proponents had hoped for.
Moreover, the opposition’s stance on this matter left little room for maneuver for Christian Estrosi, who would have had to push through forcefully to clear the substantial deficit of the season and thus meet the requirements of the DNACG.
The chapter is thus definitively closed, and once more, Nice rugby’s momentum towards a glorious future is halted by another misstep.
Indeed, the title of our article last September 19, detailing the club’s takeover by the new leadership team supporting Mr. Deffins, was sadly prescient: “The oval ball is not spinning smoothly in Nice.” Following the subsequent events, it should now read: “The oval ball no longer bounces in Nice.”
Unfortunately, having been once great players does not necessarily confer the status of good leaders. It is one thing to take power, and another to exercise it, especially when the conquest relies on bluffing.
As our English friends say in such cases: Sorry, good game!
Statement from Christian Estrosi
In line with commitments made during the “Sports” and “Finance” commission meetings on Friday, May 4th, I convened a working group today, comprising elected officials from both the majority and the opposition, to examine the leadership team’s proposals regarding the future of RNCAUR.
The leadership team confirmed Mr. Pérez’s intention to create an SASP with a capital between €1.2 million and €1.5 million but did not provide any new solution for addressing the deficit, which will amount to €1.3 million in June 2012.
Unanimously, the working group members considered that the City could not clear this deficit.
However, I wish to acknowledge the efforts made in a short time by the current leadership team and its president Tony Catoni and to highlight their commitment to their club.
Whatever decision is taken tomorrow by the DNACG of the French Rugby Federation, I want to reassure the educators and the parents of the players of the rugby school and the youth teams about the future of Nice rugby.
As I have repeatedly stated, the City of Nice will support the current leaders’ steps at the upcoming deadlines to guarantee the longevity of the amateur sections.
