Guy Romain, Jean-Claude Dauga and player agent Jérôme Lollo (among others) thus come to try to straighten the bar by integrating the sports commission. “We couldn’t leave the club in this state. We felt a little responsible by having remained behind during these years, ”says Guy Romain, member of the Gastounets, an association bringing together ex-players from the USO.
Stabilize foundations
Their role will be to “stabilize the foundations” of the club fell at 8e national level. With the president, these alumni established a roadmap aimed at going back to federal 2 within “3-4 years”, a level that the club frequented until 2022. To meet this challenge, the club wants to reconnect with “a strong local anchor”. “We have all the skills in Orthez,” said the president. Under the aegis of Jérôme Lollo, the USO thus built a coache staff made up of a “large kernel of orthéziens” to supervise the pennant team and its reserve.
The writing advises you
In the field, the idea is to rely on the training work of young people. “There is no reason for our talents to make the happiness of the surrounding clubs,” continues Patrick Labaisse. Former retired players have also agreed to find the grounds to bring their experience. “We can only offer them a great human adventure,” said Jérôme Lollo.
In parallel, the USO has the ambition to present a team of senior girls whose players will come from its current younger girl team. They are brought to play under the colors of the USomb agreement (Orthez, Mourenx and Arthez-Lagor). “We need a club policy and no teams, from the rugby school to the seniors. We will try to make young people want to come and play the USO, ”abounds Guy Romain who intends to embark on all the licensees in the project.
A balanced budget
This action plan does not forget the stands, quite the contrary. The USO thus wishes to “retrieve the link with its supporters”. “Thanks to teams with which they can identify, which has not always been the case,” said the president who took over from Alain Suzan at the head of the USO in 2022. Communication campaigns and events on the sidelines of matches must contribute. “There is already a good craze. There were 140 people at the pre-match meal, ”notes Jean-Claude Dauga with optimism.
-On the finance side, the club has “found its budget” for three years, so as to “reach balance”. “The objective is to prepare if we ever go up,” explains Patrick Labaisse who welcomes the loyalty of sponsors. “They are hungry for victory,” says Jérôme Lollo. And Guy Romain to warn: “It will not be easy, we will be expected everywhere, but the Orthéziens love rugby”. Appointment is given on September 20, date of resumption of the championship.
A player agent at the rescue of his heart club
Yet occupied by his activities as professional rugby players agent, some of which are international, Jérôme Lollo could not resolve his heart club to suffer from such a situation. “I was sick,” says this 51 -year -old Orthézien. Deeply attached to the USO, he responded favorably to Guy Romain’s call to lend a hand on a voluntary basis. “My grandfather was a healing and my leader father,” he recalls.
Now living in Bayonne, he will be within reach of the Cazenave stadium, which will allow him to come once a week and attend the matches. In the meantime, he has already been involved in the composition of the staff and the team. There is no doubt that his name brings credit to the project and had to convince some to join the adventure.
Former sports journalist in “Sud Ouest” in Agen, Jérôme Lollo embarked on the profession of player agent in 1998. With his partner Xavier Batiste, he founded the Projexa company which now has 6 FFR licensee agents and a sports advisor. This team manages the career of nearly 300 pros players, from the Top 14 to the Federal 1. Among them internationals of the oval ball.
The new sports staff presented
Next season The USO will rely on the pair made up of Joël Poeymiroo (front) and Timothée Lafon (rear) to coach team 1. Tom Lubet (rear) and Hervé Bergoignan (front) will take care of the reserve. The physical trainer will be Jean-Baptiste Peyras-Loustalet, the Pink Amber physiotherapist.
