This is information that will restore credibility to Issoldun football: the general meeting held this Saturday, June 29, 2024 in the bowels of the Henri-Mérillac stadium confirmed what had been transpiring for several days; namely the signing as coach of the local boy, Mathieu Béguin.
Béguin, who spent almost all (1) of his adult career in Vierzon (he played in CFA 2 and DH, the equivalent of N3 and R1; before being assistant coach in N2 and N3 from 2019 to 2024) was trained at the SAI, from his beginnings at the football school until his departure at the age of 20. “It’s a return to my roots and I won’t hide from you that I’m very enthusiastic about the idea of returning to this club and this stadium, confided the person concerned. I was upset to see the SAI in danger and as I wanted to launch myself as coach number 1, we quickly found common ground with the leaders.
“We need to restore our reputation; that’s the priority objective…”
Obviously, the current level of the pennant team, relegated to D2 after a nightmarish season at all levels (off-field violence, general package) is far from its usual standards, but the challenge does not seem to frighten it. “We will try to return to D1 at the end of next season and I have the ambition that we return to the regional level within four years at the latest. »
This will involve more regular attendance at training sessions (on average three per week), more rigour at all levels and a better image to convey. “We need to restore our reputation; that’s the priority objective…”
XXL recruitment is underway with experienced players who have played in higher divisions (midfielders Joël Konan and Mohamed Hamou; defender Jérémy Défougère) and above all twelve players arrive from the neighboring and disbanded club of Les Bordes without being transferred. “I will meet everyone on Monday August 12 for the resumption of training”, says the future coach who has already scheduled two friendly matches against Chaillot (D1 Cher, August 28) and Massay (D1 Cher, date to be determined) and who is planning other preparation meetings. Notice to interested parties.
The arrival of Mathieu Béguin is a great move by the new management team in place for only a year, but general secretary François Bernard still saw reasons for satisfaction in the results of the past season. “Of the club’s 215 members, there are 180 young people and the results have been very good. Three U9 teams have progressed to D1 and our U15 and U17 have both progressed to bi-departmental. »
The president has a good feeling
Another reason for satisfaction: the club has trained four new coaches and hired two young referees (Emma Ballon, Frédéric Nicole), so that it is no longer in breach of the arbitration statutes, which will allow it to field six transfer players each weekend. “We also closed our budget of €70,000 without any worries, added François Bernard, so much so that we are very optimistic for the future. Especially when we see all these young people around us. »
Chloé Louvet has been the young president of SA Issoudun for a year.
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This breath of fresh air in Issoudun is also embodied by the president Chloé Louvet, not a great football specialist, she admits (her son Eden plays in U9), but who accepted the position in June 2023 because she had seen it “an enriching experience on all levels and when I have a good feeling, I never refuse anything! “.
This 32-year-old farmer and dog breeder based in Lizeray introduces herself as “a unifier. This club needed to be cleaned up and rebuilt. We feel real potential and a story. We are starting again on a healthy basis. » With Mathieu Béguin as figurehead.
