On Monday night, Fabrice Bocquet was the special guest on 100% Aiglons, the France Bleu Azur radio show. It was the opportunity for the show to discuss all the latest news concerning the Côte d’Azur club.

THE MERCATO

“Overall, we've fulfilled our objectives because we've been able to meet our needs in a very difficult economic climate, which doesn't only affect OGC Nice but French, and European football, as a whole, by recruiting in the necessary key positions.

“When you look at the mercato in general, we've also seen the arrival of a coach with his staff and a new sporting director, so we are very happy with what has been achieved across the playing squad and the coaching staff and technical direction, not to mention the Training Centre which has also been updated.

“...we're lucky to have an owner who gives us a lot of financial support, which is not the case for other Ligue 1 clubs.

“But that doesn't change the fact that we've lost €14 million compared to previous years because of TV rights. Obviously that has had a huge impact on us.

“...we had a budget, but we mustn't forget that we triggered Morgan Sanson's option to buy. Last summer we didn't sell any of our big players, which is rare. These two players were coming to the end of a cycle, and it's very important to understand that, because it was very important for them to try something new.

The signings of Bombito and Abdelmonem, have opened up OGC Nice to other markets. According to Fabrice Bocquet, this was “a desire and a necessity”. “It's in the Gym's DNA. That's the reasoning to bring in these players, with a recruitment team that has years of experience. On the contrary, just because we don't recruit for €15 million doesn't mean we don't recruit well - quite the opposite, we recruit intelligently.”

BULKA’S CONTRACT EXTENSION

‘If it were up to us, we would sign this tomorrow, but it’s not only our decision. We've been in discussions for several months now, and several offers have been made to him since last spring.

“We want to extend his contract, but it's going to take time, and we hope to announce the good news soon, for the club, for our supporters and for him too.”

THE BUILDING OF THE SQUAD 

“It's all about complementarity. It's important to have a relatively small squad, because 16 players will make up around 90% of the playing time. Brahimi's departure is part of this process… There are several factors to take into account, and the youngsters at the academy would not get any playing time if there were too many senior players,” added the general manager.

FRANCK HAISE

“I was lucky enough to get to know him even before RC Lens, and he's a great guy with a great family. He excelled at Lens, both in terms of results and style, and that's what attracted us to him.

“Last year we had the results, but we could have had a little more style, which is why we didn't hesitate a second when the opportunity to sign him presented itself. It was a unanimous decision, taken very quickly.”

CLUB EVOLUTION

“You need stability in football, which is very hard to find. We want to build something over time. That's why it's so important to have a coach with the right personality, to create bonds.”

Does this new appointment mark the start of a new three-year cycle? “It's hard to say… it could also be for 10 years. You have to create the conditions for optimum performance on a daily basis.

“We're getting to know each, and that's enabling us to perfect our recruitment, our methodologies, by creating conditions for discussion and debate, especially with the coaching staff, and with the Performance Director Laurent Bessière, and with the Training Centre.”

A RETURN TO EUROPEAN FOOTBALL

“These are intense moments, some good and some bad, like the match against Basel, which left its mark. We are ambitious, we want to perform well. If we do well in the Europe, that means we can also do well in Ligue 1.

“... We've set our objective in Ligue 1, which is to be top 6 or top 7 and to qualify for Europe. We haven't set a goal for Europe because it's so tough, but if we don't get past the group stage, that would be disappointing. With the new format, we'll have more matches, but we think it's a good change. I also think that it's via Europe that you really make a bond with your region.

“... We have been consistent on the European stage. Six European qualifications in 12 years is a credit to Le Gym and Jean-Pierre Rivère, as the first qualifications date back to before INEOS took over.

INEOS’ AMBITIONS

“We've heard people say that INEOS has reduced its investment. But INEOS puts in several tens of millions of euros every year, and they are more involved than ever in OGC Nice.

“And our role is to ensure that with the support we get from them, which is not the same as it was in the past, is to make sure that the club continues to grow and that the wage bill is around that of the 5th or 6th place team.”

RELAYING THE PITCH

Fabrice Bocquet confirmed that ‘thankfully’ the pitch will be re-laid and ready for the match against Saint-Etienne.

TAKING OVER STADIUM OPERATIONS

“It seems very difficult to do that, given the current situation. We've been working on it for a year, but it's a financial abyss. We're not giving up, but it's very complex. If you ask the employees, it's a real objective. We'd be more than happy to take over the operation. However, taking over stadium operations doesn't mean you have total freedom. You have to comply with strict regulations.”

SUPPORTERS EMBRACING ALLIANZ RIVIERA

“We have surpassed our record number of season ticket holders, with over 16,000 at present, which means that we would have filled every match at the old Stade du Ray. Last year, we had an average of 25,000 at Allianz Riviera. Even if there is still work to do, we are heading in the right direction. But, we'd still like to move faster, to dress the stadium up in the colours of Le Gym, or add some local elements. I'm not talking about the seats ... There is still no sense of pride in our stadium. But we're not giving up, and we're making progress day by day with small victories.

“One of our main areas for improvement next year will be catering inside the stadium. This is a very important aspect for the local identity. We have to be able to do better and strengthen the bond with local community.”

ON THE 120 ANNIVERSARY

On 20 September, the Aiglons return to Allianz Riviera against Saint-Etienne. The match will be used to celebrate the club's 120th anniversary. A great party is planned: “It's important for us to pay tribute to the club's history. This was very well done at the party on Chateau Hill on 9 July. Without revealing too much, we will once again be highlighting our history, this time at the stadium and, as always, with our supporters,” concluded the General Manager.

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