At the start of the year, FC Martigues would be well inspired to make some good resolutions. And to stick to it. Starting by finally winning a match. The FCM has in fact not won in the championship since its 1-0 success at Clermont on October 25.
In the Coupe de France, Martigues was experiencing a golden parenthesis until this humiliating 32e in the final lost 4-1 to Bourgoin-Jallieu, a club which nevertheless plays in National 3.
At FC Martigues, we readily recognize that, since this match, the mentality of the troops has been at its lowest. And the morale of the supporters is hardly better. “ There was really hope of experiencing emotions in this competition », laments Nicolas Balique, a passionate Martégal.
In this slump, it is difficult to see any light at the end of the tunnel. The Provençal club will finish whatever happens the first phase of the championship in last place in the standings, even in the event of an exploit this Friday on the pitch of Paris FC, currently 2e of Ligue 2. Especially since the DNCG has maintained the ban on recruitment during the next winter transfer window, which will end on February 3. Unless you sign unemployed players.
With nine points, Martigues is six behind Caen, 16e. More worrying, the abysmal goal difference of FCM, which plunged to -26, with only eight goals scored – and therefore 34 conceded.
On the side of the supporters, anger is obviously brewing. “ This is the worst team in 20 ans ! », exclaims Christophe Agius, president of Maritima Supra. “ Honestly, it's even worse than our years in CFA. »
The observation is the same for the oldest. “ We can already rank this season among the worst in FCM history », Estimates Nicolas Balique, historian and author of two works on the club. “ We saw players in difficulty from 4e match », sighs Stéphane Lopez, historic supporter. “ There are some who have names thanks to their career, like Simon Falette, but who are not really at the level “, he believes. Summer recruits are also the first to face criticism. But the leaders also take it for their rank. Including Pierre Wantiez, the president. “ We really have puppets at the head of the club! “, plagues Christophe Agius since he was very young. “ I can't wait for the Martégal people to return to Turcan to express all their anger », he promises.
The return to the historic stadium obviously fuels all the conversations on the banks of the Venice of Provence. With a crucial deadline this Friday, January 3: the meeting of the professional bodies of French football, the town hall and the club in Martigues with a view to the approval of the stadium. On January 7, after a visit from the authorities, we will know whether or not the FCM will be able to receive Clermont on January 10 at Francis-Turcan. Fingers crossed.
