a merger between QRM and Rouen, “it comes naturally” for Michel Mallet

At a time when clubs are experiencing more and more economic problems, a merger between two strongholds of national football did not take place last summer. Indeed, relegated to the third French division, Quevilly-Rouen Métropole was not against becoming one with FC Rouen. The National resident, who has only won one match in eight days this season, was then in the grip of major financial difficulties and was not sure of being able to pass his test before the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG ).

“It’s obvious… If we want to go to the high level, we need only one club. If we want to stay at the National level, we can still continue with two clubs for a long time. We haven’t gone far at the “Off-season, we discussed with everyone to ensure that we could seize this unfortunate opportunity” said Michel Mallet during an interview with our colleagues from Paris-Normandy.

The two clubs in difficulty at the start of the season

If FC Rouen ultimately did not file for bankruptcy and was bought by Turkish businessman Tarkan Ser, a merger should not take place soon. “There was no question in the spirit of making one club or the other disappear, but of combining two forces to give ourselves the chance of success. We came very close to doing so. We made mistakes in 2014 or 2015, we came together so that the planets aligned. We were ready to make concessions on a lot of things: the colors of the club, the affiliation number. There was still one point to settle: the name. “We must recognize everything that FC Rouen represented in Normandy football as well as everything that Quevilly represented in Normandy football” explained the president of the Yellow and Red, who still regrets a “missed meeting. “. So once again. After eight days, FC Rouen is twelfth, QRM fourteenth.