the essential
The Rodez coach, whose contract ends at the end of the season, revealed that he is in discussions with the club to extend his lease.
At a time when the winter transfer market opens up possibilities for development in the workforce, another file is emerging in the news of Rodez Aveyron football. The future of his coach could be decided in the coming weeks. The contract of Didier Santini, appointed in December 2022 after the sidelining of Laurent Peyrelade, ends at the end of the current season. But his lease could be extended, since the person concerned admitted, yesterday at a press conference, having “received a proposal from the club”.
This offer demonstrates management’s confidence in the coach. Which is anything but a surprise given his record. It presents a quarter-final of the Coupe de France as well as a continuation in 2023, while Didier Santini had taken charge of a relegated team almost halfway through. The following season was that of apotheosis, with a fourth place in Ligue 2, the best ranking in the club’s history at this level, which earned them participation in the promotion play-offs. With his staff, the coach also managed to cope with the numerous upheavals in the squad during the offseason. After a bumpy start to the season, the team got going and was once again able to prove attractive, despite the disappointing performance against Red Star (0-2) last Friday. “What are the reasons to change?summarized Pierre-Olivier Murat, the president of Raf. I’m not the type to change every four mornings. I’ve been president for twenty years, I’ve had five coaches.”
Pierre-Olivier Murat: “The coach did a very good job”
And the boss of blood and gold is in no hurry to know a sixth. “The coach did a very good job”he insisted when taking stock of the mid-term. Relations between the two men are very good and discussions for an extension began at the end of last season. They did not succeed immediately but both parties assure that they dragged on due to the economic uncertainty created by the drop in TV rights for French football. “at that time it was more important to take care of players and recruitment”supported Didier Santini.
-The desire to continue the common history seems to be shared by the coach. Yesterday he repeated his attachment to Rodez: “I have a love for this city, for this club, for the people I meet. I enjoy it every day, it plays a huge role.” Corsican, however, mentioned “small details I want to talk to the president about”and which should therefore set the tone for the rest of the negotiations.
“Details” to discuss
According to the coach, “it’s not financial”. It is also not linked to the future of his deputy Emerick Darbelet, whom he met upon arriving at Raf and with whom he developed a great bond, since the latter also received an extension offer. “I don’t ask for muchhe said, without specifying the subjects he wants to discuss with his president. These are details for growing up.” We can imagine that at one point it will be a question of staffing. While the most successful individuals, such as Waniss Taïbi and Timothé Nkada, attract envy, he may want guarantees on the fact of retaining certain players or the level of their replacements. “I try to make do with what we can have, not to ask for impossible things”he added.
Enough to suggest that an agreement between Raf and his trainer is probable. But we will also have to see if Santini will not have other possibilities, he who had admitted to having “two offers from foreign clubs” after last season.
