The ambitions of Stade Niçois to ascend to a professional championship (PRO D2), previously frustrated by various external reasons unrelated to the playing field (administrative irregularities a year ago and the suspension of the championship this season), should find a positive solution starting from the 2020-2021 season.
It will not be the Pro D2 but an intermediate situation, a “National” or PRO D3 division by invitation that the FFR wants to organize to allow structured and ambitious teams to prepare for the big leap by facing opponents of equivalent value. Gone are the days of “runaway” scores, giving way to tight matches (at least on paper).
The FFR’s federal bureau is set to validate this Friday which clubs will be invited to the “National” next season. And there could be thirteen teams selected instead of twelve, following a sudden change in the situation in recent hours. The last one?
Although the official invitation process has not yet been launched, it seems that the last obstacles to creating a “National” division, which will be the elite amateur level, have been overcome. Long envisioned as a twelve-team division, the semi-professional pool should finally consist of thirteen clubs.
According to the federation’s wish, this will be a real division with a promotion-relegation system. Next season, there will be two promotions to the Pro D2, and two teams relegated to Fédérale 1.
This new championship will include a regular phase and final phases (likely semifinals and a final).
The probable clubs (13): Albi, Blagnac, Bourg-en-Bresse, Bourgoin, Chambéry, Cognac-Saint-Jean-d’Angély, Dax, Dijon, Massy, Narbonne, Nice, Suresnes, Tarbes.
