Tuesday afternoon, the DNCG (National Directorate of Management Control) refused the promotion of Aubagne to National. Dauphin of Provençaux, Le Puy Foot could be drafted, but the champion of group A of National 2 has appealed.
The financial policeman of football continues to crack down on national level clubs. Tuesday afternoon, it was Aubagne who paid the price since the DNCG decided to refuse his promotion to the National. The Bouches-du-Rhône club, which is merging with SC Air Bel and ES Penonoise, has not provided the necessary guarantees in order to successfully pass before the authorities. “The balance sheet of the Air Bel club has not been merged with ours, administrative documents are missing,” explained president Lionel Jeanningros, to our colleagues at Provence. We now know the problem, we know what we need to work on, we will do everything to bring the missing pieces to the file. And, we are optimistic about the outcome.”
Puy Foot on pole to be drafted
The Aubagnais leaders are therefore confident and have decided to appeal to contest this decision and defend their place in the third division. If this appeal is rejected, Le Puy Foot could be the first drafted, after finishing second in group A of National 2. This is in any case what the internal regulations of the National championships, established by the French Federation, suggest. of Football: “Unless otherwise specified, at the end of a championship at national level and at higher league level, there is at least one accession per group or per division. As a result, when a team ranked first in a group or division is prevented from accessing the higher level or renounces it for any reason whatsoever, it is the next team in the order of the classification of this group or this division which accesses the higher level .”
National 2: arrivals, departures, subscriptions… The latest information from Puy Foot
But are the Ciel et Blanc really capable of reaching the National championship? They haven’t really prepared for it, either in terms of budget or recruitment. While the resumption of training is scheduled in a week, the Ponot clan has not planned any upheavals and continues to work like a club which will take part in the National 2 championship in mid-August. “When you have been president for 14 years and certain scenarios repeat themselves, you are accustomed to waiting and wisdom,” confides President Christophe Gauthier. “To be honest, I don’t believe in our accession at all.”
The habit of uncertain off-seasons
Le Puy Foot is indeed used to going through turbulent summers. Already last year, it was hanging on the decisions of the DNCG which could have led to a stay in National on the green carpet. The Ponots had also experienced cruel decisions two years in a row during the Covid period, undergoing the uncertain arbitrations of the FFF. In 2019, they hoped to be able to stay in National, after the premature end of the championships. In vain. During the following season, Le Puy was still in a waiting position, with the intention of moving up following a good first half of the season in N2. But this time, the authorities had favored the Sedan repechage.
These episodes had inevitably been experienced as injustices. “The advantage is that this time, we find ourselves on the right side, in the shoes of the one who could benefit from a decision”, underlines Christophe Gauthier. The manager believes that if the opportunity presents itself, it will be necessary to seize it. “In any case, we could not refuse the promotion since that could lead to a ban from going back up, then, for several seasons. We will then wait until July to know the final decisions and the different groups for next season.”
Lucas Jacquet
