Thunderbolt at OGC Nice: the president and the general manager have both announced their departure by the end of the season during an exceptional press conference. A departure not so surprising given the explanations of the two main parties involved…
The start of the winter transfer window, only punctuated by rumors surrounding Balotelli but nothing regarding arrivals, and the numerous rumors about tense relations among the club’s leaders left everyone fearing the worst. Everything was confirmed this Friday afternoon when the media received the information: an extraordinary press conference organized at the training center.
Even before the start of this conference, the rumor spread: President Rivère and General Manager Julien Fournier announced their departure to the club’s staff. The rumor was confirmed a few minutes later, in front of the press.
Since the arrival of Sino-American investors in 2016 (Chien Lee, Alex Zheng, Mike Conway, Elliott Hayes), who bought 80% of the club’s shares, Jean-Pierre Rivère’s step back (who kept 20%) was indicative of an upcoming transfer of leadership. At the time, the president of Gym had declared he would stay for “a three-year cycle.” A cycle that, given Gym’s excellent results, seemed set to last.
MAJOR CONFLICTS WITH THE SHAREHOLDERS
But the relations between the shareholders and the Rivère-Fournier duo deteriorated following a complicated summer transfer window: “We have some minor tensions with our shareholders. It’s an open secret,” Jean-Pierre Rivère began. “These tensions increase during the transfer periods, and this summer, it left its marks. Over time, the fluidity is no longer there. And there are differences in opinion… We had agreed to stay until the end of May. But this January transfer window, we have worked a lot with the teams, we still have differences. It wasn’t possible anymore. It is exhausting to spend a month and a half convincing a shareholder that it’s necessary to recruit Atal. Many months ago, we asked the shareholder to appoint someone on their behalf to work alongside us. To no avail.”
The beginning of January seems to have been the straw that broke the camel’s back: “The transfer options we anticipated have died. There is still a question mark over Mario Balotelli’s future. We will manage potential player departures, but arrivals will be handled by investors.” Announcements regarding the transfer window that are enough to cause concern.
Nevertheless, the duo maintains a positive view of their experience at the head of Gym: “There is always a time when we abandon a project. The club has been profitable for several years. We have reached Europe three times. We have helped the club grow. It wasn’t my goal to be here for 20-25 years. I have no regrets. I can’t imagine myself at another club. I have met wonderful people here. That’s what I will remember.
But I will have a life after OGC Nice. We made mistakes and good things. We are not going to stay somewhere for life. This club was a challenge. We succeeded in part. It’s the life of a club to evolve.”
THE SUPPORTERS IN SHOCK
The supporters of Gym reacted strongly on social media to the announcement of the Rivère-Fournier duo’s departure. Most were surprised and shocked, praising a president who greatly helped Gym grow. It will now be up to the Sino-American shareholders to find Rivère and Fournier’s successors. And the task will be difficult! “We have invited the shareholders to recruit people who could replace us,” declared the future ex-president of Gym. The duo will leave “by the end of May at the latest.”
CHRISTIAN ESTROSI’S REACTION
“I want to pay him the tribute he deserves for everything he has brought to OGC Nice and thank him for ensuring continuity until a new management is appointed. I fully respect his decision even though I deeply regret it because when you have the chance to have such a captain at the helm, it’s not easy to replace him,” said the mayor regarding Jean-Pierre Rivère.
THE REACTION OF DIDIER QUILLOT (CEO of the LFP)
“Jean-Pierre Rivère is an entrepreneur. He transformed his club and changed its dimension,” assessed the number two of the LFP. “He had very great successes: the training center, entering the stadium, and recruiting stars or coaches such as Lucien Favre or Patrick Vieira. And as an administrator of the League (Rivère is a member of the board and the executive committee of the LFP), he has always put the general interest above personal interest. He is a moderate, constructive individual who is always seeking solutions. I deeply regret his departure.”
