Nice Première went to meet Gérard Renaudo, the Director General of Administrative Services for the city of Nice and a key figure in the project concerning the construction of Nice’s future large stadium. He discusses the decision of the Administrative Court and his hopes to see the construction work start as soon as possible.
In his very personal style and without mincing words, Gérard Renaudo receives us in his office at the main town hall to share his feelings about the halt ordered by the Administrative Court.
Surprised and disappointed by this judgment, he is confident about the next decision to be made concerning the legal interpretation of the article of the local government code on rate setting, which seems to be the only issue raised by Mrs. Anne Gaillard, the judge at the 5th chamber.
A supporter of OGC Nice for many years “I had the chance to see Amalfi and others play”, he was part of the 2002 battle that helped save a club on the verge of relegation. “I was there in 2002 and I would fight again today to see the Grand Stade built in Nice”.
Determined he is, Gérard Renaudo. Another battle is engaged today and it is hard to predict the outcome.
Nice Première: How do you feel after the decision of the Administrative Court?
Gérard Renaudo: A cruel disappointment. I thought that, given how the hearing went, we had completely dismantled the attacks against the file and thus, it appeared entirely legal.
It’s a bit like football, I would have preferred to lose 3-0 rather than 1-0 due to a very dubious goal at the last minute. I really have this feeling of having conceded a highly dubious goal in injury time.
But I am a fighter, I certainly had a few minutes of dejection following this decision, but I am determined to fight to the end for this project.
NP: Is there any possibility of appeal?
GR: For me, we have only lost a timing battle with this injunction decision.
The real appointment is the one that will allow us to argue on the merits and prove the legality of our file, which will enable the Administrative Court to validate the procedure.
Nevertheless, we are going to appeal the Administrative Court’s decision to the Administrative Court of Appeal in Marseille to lift the suspension. We have a deadline of 15 days to do so.
NP: How does the City Hall of Nice stand after this new setback on the Grand Stade project?
GR: Sadness and disgust because while one can understand the halting of a file for malfeasance, even though some have tried to make inappropriate comparisons, we are at the Administrative Court and not at the Criminal Court.
Moreover, as I said, the decision is indeed prejudicial as it suspends the file but does not challenge the validity of it since we have not yet reached the merits of this file.
NP: What are the consequences for the future of the Grand Stade and OGC Nice?
GR: It is clear that this stadium must be completed because let’s not forget, if this project exists, it’s because the Ray stadium is no longer up to standard. Moreover, all the people of Nice wish to have a competitive team, and the grand stadium is a key element to achieve it. Maurice Cohen and various coaches who have succeeded one another are unanimous on this point.
I therefore think that, given that there is currently only a doubt about the legality of the file, this concern will be resolved quickly, and the stadium will be built soon.
NP: Two projects, two cancellations. Is the Grand Stade project in Nice cursed?
GR: No, the project is not cursed, and besides, I have been through even more difficult times during the troubled period of 2002 when the club almost went down to National and lost its professional status.
The difference is that in 2002, we all spoke with one voice.
Today, politicians want to have their say on everything. We need to stop debating endlessly. Should we build a stadium with 32,000 seats? Should it be at Ray, at Charles Erhmann Park? Should it have been done with private partners?
So many questions that today leave us at an impasse, and most seriously, deprive OGC Nice of a wonderful working tool.
NP: How do you position yourself on the project of a stadium on the Ray hill?
GR: There is the heart and there is reason. I am a former OGC Nice fan and I have experienced both good and bad seasons at Ray. I also worked a lot on the Ray project and I can assure today that it was impossible to rebuild a new stadium at Ray without moving the lawn.
NP: Lastly, how do you see the “Grand Stade” project in the coming months?
GR: Today, we need to save this file because a Grand Stade is necessary in Nice.
This is the second fight I have fought for the Gym and I am determined to carry it through to the end.
The supporters, players, managers, politicians, and the entire population were united behind the club. I regret that as the fate of the file is about to be decided, debates resurface about the location, management mode, or its capacity. This may make the project appear contested by the population when, even though disagreements may arise, everyone recognizes that a new stadium is absolutely necessary both for the public and for OGC Nice.
Even the Prefect of Alpes-Maritimes has indicated in the press that the project is a good project for the club and for the city!
In conclusion, I would say that this file has been thought out and considered by a group of municipal officials who acted with passion, worked without watching their hours, and were proud to put together a magnificent project. This project was carried out meticulously, and it has inspired other municipalities (Lille, Valenciennes) to adopt the Nice model.
