During an evening with supporters at the Stade Raoul-Barrière brasserie, city mayor Robert Ménard gave important details on the upcoming sale of the club as well as the identity of the investors. However, some final details remain to be finalized to complete the process.
While the Rugbiterre supporters association had organized an evening with the ASBH staff with the aim of discussing the season, Robert Ménard, the mayor of the city, was also among those present. In the middle of the proceedings and the explanations provided by Pierre Caillet and his deputies, the city councilor then took the microphone and shared the significant progress in front of the assembly present at the Stade Raoul-Barrière brasserie. “Discussions are continuing with investors, it took a lot of time and I think it was normal to take all the usual precautions to avoid further disappointment.” In reference to the aborted episode of the Emiratis during the year 2020, still in everyone’s minds in Biterrois.
“Lighting a smoke bomb kills the ASBH. Insulting the referee seriously harms the health of your club”: the ASBH brings some of its supporters back to order after the sanctions receivedhttps://t.co/82MpR5Fvhb
— RUGBYRAMA (@RugbyramaFR) https://twitter.com/RugbyramaFR/status/1841379590817656872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The mayor lists one by one the milestones reached over several weeks:“The financial aspect has been validated. It’s a good thing. We discussed their intentions, and what they wanted to do here as a project. We also specified the investment made by the town hall since the purchase by the municipality and what it had cost. The Rugby Regulatory Authority was contacted and no longer sees any difficulty in the matter. Prudent, Robert Ménard details a final part to the audience:“We want to have a right of review over the club, in particular with the supervisory board before ratifying the sale. Having representation which guarantees us that we are not doing anything with this takeover is essential Their lawyers have received this message and we will discuss it this Friday.under the eyes of Michaël Guedj, the chairman of the aforementioned supervisory board, with whom he finalized other points during the day, endorsing these remarks.
Irish investors associated with big names in world rugby
Curiosity rises a notch in the large room adjoining the field illuminated for the occasion, like a symbol of a new glow coming to establish itself in the silent atmosphere of the enclosure. The names then come out, some of which have already been mentioned previously in our columns:“Eddie Jordan is one of those people interested in this sale, adds Robert Ménard. Andrew Merthens and Bob Skinstad accompany him, when we see these identities, we say to ourselves that they are not just anyone. They told me “They look very serious and their careers speak for them.” Eddie Jordan, former boss of the Formula 1 team in the years 1990-2000, is one of these investors with Irish connotations. All-Black legend Andrew Merthens played in the Béziers jersey in 2011, before having a coaching career with ASBH for a few months and ending up as ambassador for a short period. Bob Skinstad, world champion in 2007 with the Springboks, is therefore associated with the project. Currently a consultant, the former flanker was seen in the stadium boxes during the friendly match this summer against Narbonne.
What timing will happen from now on? The respective lawyers will meet Friday morning to further go through the final details of such a transfer before a signature. Robert Ménard raised the possibility of calling a press conference subsequently in order to discuss all the subtleties of a process started last January. The supporters present displayed their optimism, while guarding themselves from triumphalism linked to the recent past.
