Rouen-Lille: Champions League in 7 years, newbie, who is Iwan Postel, the president of FC Rouen?

Rouen could never have crossed paths with Lille this Friday evening in the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France. On the verge of bankruptcy, following the disastrous management of Charles Maarek, the former president, FC Rouen came close to filing for bankruptcy this summer. After many aborted takeover projects, it was finally Black Eagle, a Turkish investment fund which set its sights on a 125-year-old dean of French football. Tarkan Ser, the investor, who was notably part of the board of directors of the Besiktas club, took four million euros out of his pocket to cover the debts. However, the one who best embodies this redemption is none other than the Turk’s deputy, the Dutchman Iwan Postel.

The man aged around fifty has had a thousand lives, never too far from sport. On his LinkedIn page, we learn in particular that he is the first Batavian to have scored points in the world rally ranking, in 1995. This entrepreneur has lived in Turkey, in Istanbul for 20 years, was cited in the Panama Papers, subject on which he swears to have committed nothing illegal. The great particularity of the Rouen president is that he is a neophyte in the world of football. An inexperience that he claims as a strength.

Obviously, questions arose upon his arrival, particularly in the industry. “What interests me when someone buys a club is to know what reasons are behind it. And there, even if I look, I can’t understand”says a connoisseur of the mysteries of French football. On Postel’s side, we claim the history of the club, solid popular support with an average attendance of around 5,000 spectators to justify this operation.

The arrival of this neophyte did not necessarily shock the supporters who are waiting to relive happy days with their club which has not known the professional level for thirty years. “The FCR was very ill, so if there is a doctor who comes and promises to treat you, you are not going to say no”explains Benoît Dubuisson, 62-year-old supporter and photographer.

After a complicated start to the season, with only one victory in eleven matches, the emblematic coach, Maxime D’Ornano was thanked by his president. Régis Brouard was appointed in his place and straightened out the club’s trajectory with four consecutive victories, which brought the Normans to mid-table at the break. The revolution is mainly taking place off the field.

By playing in National, FC Rouen does not hold the top spot. But Iwan Postel has more than one trick up his sleeve. A skillful communicator, he makes shocking, even unusual, statements about his ambitions for the club. He declares in particular to aim “the Champions League in 7 years”but also have plans to build a large complex with a 40,000-seat stadium. These projects attract the attention of national media, such as the famous RMC show, L’After Footwhere he is invited and where he performs a refreshing number, full of frankness and self-confidence, to the point of excess.

On the supporters’ side, we are somewhat wary of these speeches. “CHe is a character, let’s not be afraid of words, who loves to communicate. Sometimes his media outings are a little disconcerting.”thinks the supporter who saw his first match in 1977. As for the experts, the approach raises questions. “JHe can’t tell if he really believes in what he’s announcing, if he has an absolute ignorance of the economics of football or if he says to himself in the evening when he comes home “I got them.”
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Whatever his real intentions, the strategy pays off. People talk about FC Rouen, while it is dormant in National. The feat is commendable. “He’s someone who is very ambitious. Now we’ll see where he takes us. We want to believe in it.”hopes Frédéric, Rouen supporter. In the media, he builds an image of a good customer, willing to joke, a fan of punchlines. Behind the scenes, another face stands out.

Jean-Baptiste Fiscel, a pure Rouennais, had been a candidate to buy the club, before throwing in the towel, seeing the financial resources necessary to cover the debts. He therefore became president of the FC Rouen association. Like any professional football club, the entity is divided between a company, headed by Mr. Postel, and the association which manages the amateur part of the club.

This week, the Rouen president canceled the general assembly of this association, judging that a “masquerade” was occurring within it. Relations between the Rouen president and his association counterpart have been tense since his arrival, even before the sale. While the association’s office was gathered to read the statutes, which they wanted to modify, Iwan Postel allegedly, in a fit of rage, threatened to drop everything if they did not sign immediately. Contacted, the club did not respond to our requests.

On the side of the association and its president, we wish to promote appeasement, even if the situation remains critical. The associative part is in deficit to the tune of 419,000 euros, while the professional structure only pays them 24,000 euros per year. A situation that Mr. Fiscel wants to change. But the two men do not get along, and the local accuses the Dutchman of polarizing the situation. “He considers that the world is binary: you are with him or against him. Like Donald Trump, he asserts untruths, he repeats them and at one point it gets into people’s heads.” Upon his arrival, Iwan Postel called for the resignation of the Rouennais on the evening of the rescue at the DNCG, judging that he represented a threat.

“He considers me as a competitor and has designated me as a target to be taken down. What I regret is that we are showing the image of a club which is not united”saddens Jean-Baptiste Fiscel. It is true that his Dutch counterpart did not spare him, successively describing him in the press as “president of Real Madrid”, “wolf in the sheepfold” or that he would put “sticks in the wheels”. On the Rouen side, we depict a situation where dialogue is completely broken. “JI would say it’s an assault tank, it goes straight and makes its way. Either we agree with him and follow him, or he crushes us.” In the absence of concessions, results will be required.