The discussions are lively, passionate… The nostalgics of the previous exercise will argue about the combined departures of coach Frédéric Antonetti and sports director Roger Ricort, followed by the transfers of certain key players like Cyril, Rool and Jeunechamp, Cédric Kanté, or Vincent Hognon. Okay, but the transfer market is the lot of every off-season! Even if everyone agreed to acknowledge — and fortunately for the club — that the results achieved at the time seemed overestimated given the real potential of the group. Others will add by pointing out the proven inexperience of the new coach “DON” in Ligue 1. The lack of notoriety of Didier Ollé-Nicolle was not an asset to convince talented and ambitious players to join the Gym, or even to retain the best already at the club. Numerous articles about the adventures of the possible, probable, and finally aborted transfer of Loïc Rémy testify to this!
Then there are those who, in memory of the remarkable work of revaluating the club carried out over several years under the presidency of Maurice Cohen, will claim that the conditions of his separation from the club were the determining factor of the season. As a consequence, the loss of the seat on the board of directors of the LFP and the appointment of a president, Gilbert Stellardo, who would have to discover everything about the arcana of the national football institutions. Following is a long period without victory (from 11/22 to 02/20) which would be fatal for coach “DON”. And as always, in such moments, the supporters grow impatient, get angry, and then go overboard, to the point of having to experience the home game against PSG outside the Ray stadium: 1 match behind closed doors was the sanction for the excesses during the derby in Monaco, depriving the team of its main and loyal support in a delicate period as Eric Roy, assisted by René Marsiglia and Frédéric Gioria, recently invested, attempted to save the club from the relegation which loomed over them.
Everyone has their opinion, but now turned towards the 2010-2011 season, with the fantastic certainty of constructing the Grand Stade in mind, it was easy to say that the storm had passed and the necessary calm for managing the team had returned. Thus, only one goal remained: August 7th, the reception of Valenciennes for the 1st day of Ligue 1 and the three points, of course.
But current events quickly brought us back down to earth, or rather to something more unsteady. So-called buyers made an offer to buy the club, but it was not to President Stellardo’s and the shareholders’ liking. As if there was an infinite need to destabilize OGC Nice’s start of the season. Indeed, if the people of Nice were truly paranoid, they might say that all these maneuvers are initiated solely to prevent the club from reaching a rank worthy of the 5th largest city in France and from finally occupying the front stage. But it is well known, the Southerner is not paranoid!
One can love the Red and Black, be a supporter, and understand that the shareholders, who saved the club from a probable disappearance in 2002, have intentions of selling. It is just as normal that they hope for a capital gain. And indeed, it is also logical to hope that there are people interested in taking over the club, preferably with laudable intentions.
But for the president, the shareholders, and the buyers, they need to decide very quickly now or postpone their ambitions to next year. It is crucial to quickly decide the fate of the club in terms of its owners and to validate the choice of the technical staff announced as being retained. Because in the end, what probably spoiled last season is perhaps simply that agitation due to the recurring instability within the club. Wouldn’t it be a shame and undoubtedly catastrophic to repeat the same mistakes?
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