A few hours before the penultimate match of the National season, the last at home at the Source stadium, the president of US Orléans football was the guest this Friday morning of France Bleu Orléans. Cyril Courtin succeeded Philippe Boutron on April 5, after buying the club. Facing Red Star this evening (9 p.m., to follow on France Bleu Orléans), the USO can ensure its survival. And avoid a dangerous match on Saturday May 18 at Goal FC.
France Bleu Orléans: You became owner and president of USO football a month ago, with the ambition of quickly bringing the club back to Ligue 2. However, remaining in National is still not a given. Did you imagine such a scenario?
Cyril Courtin: I knew that the situation was difficult in many aspects, financial, the problems of the stadium, the pitch. We also had a series of bad lucks at the end of the season with extra-sporting problems and injuries. The team found itself decimated, particularly in attack. It’s difficult to win matches when you lack attackers.
“I remain very proud of all the boys, whether on the sporting side or the administrative side”
There is an enormous amount of work, an enormous amount of solidarity based on the resources that remain and I am very confident. Yes, there is still one point missing to be able to maintain. I very much hope that this evening, the season will be behind us and that we will be able to look forward to the new one.
Team A still remains on a series of eight games without a victory. Do you feel that the group is mentally damaged?
It was reached a few weeks ago with the departure of our striker Kévin Fortuné, that’s for sure. I think it played a role on a sporting level but also on a mental level. [Mais] there is a very good group dynamic by Karim [Mokeddem, le coach, ndlr]. I found them super united, super supportive. A huge desire to do well and to be able to extend the project next season (…) The draws that have been made recently are very good draws.
“I will be very clear: in the event of a descent, I stay”
I knew the rules before arriving. The sporting risk exists and not only at this season’s level. Obviously, the project will be longer. And that is not my wish. But of course I will be there. We will work with the team to go back (…) But I try to eliminate this hypothesis as much as possible.
Are you currently working on a plan A and a plan B in terms of budget?
No, for the moment, we are only working on plan A, half out of the box because we cannot incur expenses or new players until it is completely done. But we are only working on the plan to remain in National with, as I said when I arrived, a strengthening in terms of the budget and the team to try to reach Ligue 2.
So you have confirmed Karim Mokeddem as coach, he will have carte blanche for recruitment?
Ah yes, he is the sporting boss, subject to respecting certain financial criteria. It’s not a magical world, so you’ll have to respect budgets that will increase. But it is up to him to say which players he wishes to keep, beyond the players under contract, to strengthen the team to have this unity and move forward with his sporting project (…) I think that the The idea is not decided, but [l’idée] it is to have half of the current team and I am quite confident because the group has worked a lot together and there is a city which remains very attractive for many things. Keep this framework and strengthen all the lines to do better next year.
Your wish for this last home match this evening at the Source stadium against Red Star is that the stadium is well filled. Will this be the case?
This will be the case with the difficulty of a Friday, Ascension weekend. There should be around 4,000 people. If so, it will be a very good performance. I again invite all the people of Orléan who are there, it’s been a beautiful day and a beautiful evening to accompany us, support us, to be able to win this very important victory this evening.
