Zapping Goal! Football club ASSE: Laurent Hess’ editorial on the management of hope Bilal Benkhedim
Goal ! : The leaders had almost sold the ASSE to the Americans of Peak 6 three years ago. Do you know why the negotiations had failed?
Gaël PERDRIAU: No. But I come from the corporate world. And an investor who buys a club while agreeing not to be a decision maker, that does not exist. In the case of Peak 6, the presidents wanted to sell while still staying at the club. It’s vague: suddenly they are ready to sell then they want to stay, they are looking for a majority shareholder, then finally a minority shareholder … And today, we do not really know. I think there is a need to clarify all of this. A clear position would perhaps allow some to take a position. Not to mention the whimsical, fancy offers.
Former president André Laurent recently told us that the ideal, according to him, would be to see a new local industrialist arrive at the presidency …
This would correspond to the history of the club and the desire of the current leaders to hand over to people attached to the values of Saint-Etienne. It would be a singularity that would honor us not to belong to foreign funds, to remain what we are.
What if foreign capital arrives?
We have some examples of clubs which have shown that it could be a success. As Mayor, I would like to meet them to learn about their plan, their strategy, their resources.
Do you have a right of inspection?
No. I am not a shareholder. But I represent the City of Saint-Etienne. When we know what ASSE represents for the image of Saint-Etienne, of the Saint-Etienne region, I hope to discuss with future leaders, if there are any, when they will make themselves known.
In your opinion, what is the fair price of a club like ASSE today?
The presidents said that it was not a question of money but of project, and we can only support them in this process. What counts is therefore not the selling price but the amount of investments, of the resources injected. What matters is to make sure we build over time, to keep our best players.
“What worries today is above all the lack of readability in relation to the future, the lack of prospects”
Today, what are your relations with the presidents?
With the covid, I can no longer go to the stadium. We saw each other at matches, so relations are less regular. The matches were an opportunity to discuss many topics. Suddenly, we exchange less. And we do not discuss all subjects …
Who do you interact with the most?
With Roland Romeyer. We know each other better. It is more frequent. With Bernard Caiazzo, it’s more episodic. But we also talk. A whole lot of things.
🚨 BUTASSE alert! 🚨
PRESSURE STROKE! The mayor of @Saint Etienne_ expresses himself on the situation of ASSE in our columns! Muscular and exciting interview!
Find your Holy Goal on newsstands or in our online store ➡️ https://t.co/DvJwVnmOsm pic.twitter.com/tTAXFVQtTE– Goal! Saint-Etienne (@ButASSE) April 5, 2021
You refused a request from the club to lower the rental amount for the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium. For what reasons ?
Because the health crisis is a difficult moment for citizens, their social and family situation. There are schools, the Ephad … We cannot make an effort everywhere. And the rental of the stadium is at a very reasonable amount (note: around 1.5 M € per year). A gesture would not change much to the € 35 million deficit announced …
The club requested a reduction in the salaries of players and staff …
It’s good. It’s healthy and understandable. It seems to me that this contribution was made elsewhere, in a more spontaneous way.
Do you feel the impact of ASSE’s results on the people of Stéphane?
I saw that a study evoked a lack of interest in football in general. With the health situation, it is difficult because the link with the stadium is broken. But I believe that the Stéphanois supporter manages to go beyond sporting turpitudes. It’s anchored. I had experienced the match against Troyes in the kop, the judgment of Jérémie Janot at the end, for his debut, when we could have fallen in the 3rd Division. Deliverance at the final whistle. When we live these moments, goosebumps we have it forever. It is beyond the results, of the moment. What worries today is above all the lack of readability in relation to the future, the lack of prospects. It is in this sense that I say that ASSE needs a new lease of life.