With the dismissal of Ahmed Kantari, Ben Chorley blew a new fuse, a year after the dismissal of Jorge Maciel. Enough to weaken the position of the sporting director and architect of the new VAFC? Decryption.
A questionable assessment
« Next season we will be back in Ligue 2 “. On April 12, during an interview with the club's media, Ben Chorley made this promise. Almost eight months later, without anything yet being prohibitive, the VAFC is slowly but surely sinking into the soft underbelly of the National (8th, 5 points behind 2nd). The fault lies in a poor series (1 victory in 10 matches) which caused the dismissal of Ahmed Kantari and which is beginning to undermine the credibility of Ben Chorley.
After a catastrophic first season, with relegation to the National at stake, the new leaders of the VAFC could find themselves extenuating circumstances. Between a late takeover, a degraded economic situation and a club to restructure, the project was immense. And the athlete paid the price. “ We took over an unhappy teamadds Ben Chorley. Considering the rankings in recent years, it is a club that is not used to winning. » To try to remedy this, Sport Republic then decided to make a 180-degree turn in terms of sports policy.
In addition to the appointment on the novice sidelines Jorge Macieldismissed from his functions even before mid-season, Ben Chorley and his teams also decided to rely on players from various backgrounds (Georgia, Sudan, Lithuania, England, Portugal, Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Turkey or again Senegal). All for a mixed result to say the least, some having already left (Costa, Moore, Kruse, Jung, Bansé) while others are struggling to be starters in National today (Lilepo, Venema, Moursou). Insufficient to make us forget the rare successes (Oyewusi, Louchet or even Flamarion).
The beginning of a challenge
A bitter failure which led Ben Chorley to formulate a mea-culpa at the end of last season: “ It didn't work for some, and we have to take responsibility for that. At no point did we think it would be easy. We never underestimated the championshippromises the VAFC sports director. We brought in players, some were successful, others were not.. » Aware of the need to set up a new recruitment unit and, at the same time, to rely on people with real knowledge of French football, Valenciennes has thus secured the services of Matthew Frison early 2024.
Arriving too late to actively take part in the 2024 winter transfer window, the former LOSC scout was really hard at work last summer. And according to several sources internal to the club, he is notably at the origin of the arrivals of Remy Boissier et Lucas Buades« players who understand what Ligue 2 and the National are » to paraphrase Ben Chorley. And if they have recently foundered with the rest of the team, they nonetheless remain sure values at the start of the season, Rémy Boissier having even regained the captain's armband. Despite this more coherent recruitment on paper (Dibassy, Antoine), although undoubtedly insufficient to have a balanced workforce, the VAFC finds itself once again in sporting difficulty.
The new coach, a crucial choice
And after maintaining his confidence in Ahmed Kantari during the offseason, when the prospect of launching a new cycle with a coach was possible, Ben Chorley had no other choice but to part with him. While knowing that this choice was dictated by Henrik Kraftthe discreet president of the club. And it is rumored that the latter would start to ask himself some questions about his faithful right arm. If Ben Chorley's head is not priced in the short term, a real assessment will be made at the end of the season. Knowing that, in the past, Sport Republic has already been able to make a decisive decision, notably in Southampton, by separating from certain managers.
To avoid experiencing such a fate, Ben Chorley will have to put the Valencian ship back afloat. And it starts with the choice of the new coach. Obviously aware of the need to change paradigm, the leaders of the VAFC are looking for an experienced technician, with good knowledge of Ligue 2 or the National. The other major issue will be to create better synergy of forces internally. Despite certain declarations of intent regarding the importance of the training center, the professional sector sometimes gives the feeling of living in isolation, without really considering the trainers who have been present at the club for many years.
Nearly a year and a half after the takeover by Sport Republic, the VAFC is therefore approaching an important turning point in its reconstruction. A new error in direction could well cost the club dearly, which cannot afford to bury itself in the National, or even worse. And, therefore, be right about the future of Ben Chorley in Valenciennes. To be continued.
Romain PECHON
Photo credits: Dave Winter/FEP/Icon Sport
