ChristopheVAFC

I look forward to bringing you regular updates from my team! I hope we have a great season, and hopefully we'll be back in the top flight straight away! For us, the 1st day of the championship is scheduled for Friday 16 August 2024.

Of course our sporting director, Ben Chorley, will be under a lot of pressure at the start of the season. We mustn't make the same mistakes as last season. We mustn't forget that this is a business and that there's a lot of money at stake, and I think that Yoann Godin, our managing director, and Ben Chorley, our sporting director, must have been briefed by Sport Républic governance this summer. As far as the fans are concerned, even if most of us have been patient and accepted our descent into the National, it won't be the same if the season gets off to a catastrophic start.

Dear colleague, It's true that the 1st year of Sport Républic in Valenciennes has not been a success. Nevertheless, SR having experienced the same situation with our friends from Southampton and Goztepe, the second season is more than a success. Let's wish our club the same fate. I would remind you that Eddy Zdziech (our former owner), left SR a derelict club with work to be done on all the club's structures. Let's be patient. Work always pays off sooner or later.

Honestly, it's not a good deal to buy Girondins de Bordeaux, firstly because they have a total debt of more than 90 million euros (Valenciennes had around 20 million at the time of the buyout). Bordeaux may be one of the oldest clubs in France, but they have often been helped out in the past. Sometimes you have to go backwards in order to go forwards, and Strasbourg, Sedan and others are examples of clubs that have gone from the bottom to the top. I wish a lot of courage to those who will buy the club because in my opinion it's a real money pit and it's a club that lives well beyond its means.

It seems to me that owning 2 clubs from the same country isn't really legal, it could be said to be a conflict of interest. That's why multi-owners generally have 1 club per country.

Sekou Mara, I'll take it from all the players, I'll even travel to your house to pick it up haha

I'll get back to you, don't worry. As far as Girondins de Bordeaux are concerned, their situation is very, very, very complicated. They're on the verge of bankruptcy and will probably go out of business. This summer, they have to replenish their accounts and raise around €40 million (£33,655,400), which is a lot of money for a football club. Bordeaux were in negotiations to be bought out by the Fenway Sport Group (owner of Liverpool). But the sale did not go ahead for the following reason: ‘This decision is explained in particular by the significant cost of the stadium in the coming years, but also by the general economic context of French football’. The owner alone must come up with this sum before 24 July 2024, as they have an appointment with the French football regulator (DNCG). The FFF (Fédération Française de Football) has indicated on the board ‘Bordeaux or Troyes’ pending the decision on 24 July, but all indications are that Troyes (17th and 1st relegated from Ligue 2) will be drafted in, as it seems impossible for Bordeaux to find the money in 8 days. For Bordeaux, it will be either National or lower (7th or 8th division in France). The rugby here at Valenciennes is not top level, it plays in the regional league I think... But relations between the football club and the rugby club are not at their best, because our current stadium was built on part of their old ground and they had to move further away... However, since Sport Républic took over, our club has enjoyed a better relationship with local politicians (town hall / agglomeration / local enterprise...)

I'd love to have a few of your players but of course, between the Premier League and the French 3rd division, it's not easy. We'll have to see what happens in the next few years. SR told us that they were here for the medium to long term, for several years.

With the presence of quite a few clubs with professional infrastructures (recent stadiums and training centres), I would say that the 3rd division championship, known as the ‘National Championship’, is looking more and more like a semi-professional championship. After all, the 3rd division isn't the most attractive league in France, but this year, with the names of the clubs present, it could be interesting to follow. As far as the players are concerned, this championship could give some of them a chance to make a name for themselves and show what they can do. From what I know, some club presidents and governing bodies want the 3rd division to become more professional and be renamed ‘Ligue 3’ in the near future, which I think would be a good thing.

I'm very happy about that

Yes ! Of course my friend ! https://x.com/VAforeverVA

I like your shirts for the new season, my friends. I think that during the season, I'll be ordering your home jersey that I won't hesitate to wear at Valenciennes. May these shirts bring you luck and all the best for the new season, my friends!

The championship was announced yesterday afternoon. It's not going to be an easy championship, as there are a number of clubs who have played at the top level recently (Nimes / Sochaux / Dijon / Troyes or Bordeaux / Nancy). I think that if we want to get back up there straight away, we'll have to give it our best shot from the outset, be keen to win games, and I think that with positive results, this will help to build a good dynamic for the group. I'm personally confident, but only the truth on the pitch will matter. As a little anecdote, the calendar you shared comes from a page that I manage myself. Don't hesitate to subscribe (Allow me to do a little self-promotion haha) https://www.facebook.com/VAFCSupporters

Hello friends! First pre-season friendly match yesterday in front of almost 650 supporters. Against a team we call the UNFP (union of professional football players), which isn't really a club but a training course for players without a club (unemployed). For this first match, the aim was to get the intensity right away and to get almost everyone playing (the players all played around 45 minutes). Starting with a win is always good for morale and confidence. The aim is to continue our preparations before the start of the new season on 16 August.

Good evening, folks. I hope you enjoy the match tonight. Avenge France against the Spaniards! I'm watching the match and I'll be right behind your team! Go England!

Congratulations on your penalty shoot-out win over Switzerland! Welcome to the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals!

Honestly, when I'm in Valenciennes I come across a lot of English club shirts (Manchester City and Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool especially) but otherwise no-one but me wears the occasional shirt I bought when I visited you.

Front and back photo of the jersey I took yesterday.

Feedback from Valenciennes fans has been fairly positive - they like the design and quality of the shirt. The most important thing now is that the shirt is our lucky charm for next season and takes us back to the second division as quickly as possible.

Hello friends! I hope you're well and that the holidays are going well for some of you too! Yesterday, the presentation of the new home shirt for next season took place in front of Valenciennes town hall. A new equipment supplier (Hummel) and the return of an old sponsor (Toyota). Sold in shops for €70 (£59.30). Link to online shop: https://boutique.va-fc.com/products/maillot-domicile-saison-2024-2025 Video presentation of the shirt by the club: https://boutique.va-fc.com/products/maillot-domicile-saison-2024-2025 What do you think, folks? Have a great day!

Hello friends! I'm currently watching France and tonight I'll be watching England! Enjoy the match!

Hello ! I haven't had any further news about the tournament, but I have received information from your CEO, Mister Phil Parsons, dated 8 May 2024: "Hi Christophe, unfortunately due to the league starting dates we have had to cancel the evening. I hope it will happen the following summer. I hope you are well. Phil " I don't think the decision will be changed. Have a nice day.

I don't see it that way either. The 3 clubs each have their own way of doing things, and when I came here I didn't see any loss of identity on your part - quite the contrary! SR's management of our 3 clubs is quite different from that of other timeshares such as City Group... I'm also surprised that the governance has kept the coach and the sporting director, but I think that if next season goes badly, decisions will be taken very quickly.

It's true that the first year of Sport Républic's presidency didn't live up to our expectations, dear colleagues, but it's worth remembering that SR took over the club in a very poor state, both in terms of facilities and finances. It takes time for things to fall into place and you have to be patient. You only have to look at SR's first year in charge at our friends Southampton and Goztepe to see that it wasn't easy either. I won't go back over our former president, who made a lot of mistakes over 9 years, because you have to know how to move forward. I'm convinced that the coming season will be much better for us.

The possibility of Joachim signing for Southampton is real for me, but at the moment there's very little information coming out in the media on the subject. He's a player with a lot of potential and I don't think SR are going to let him go to other clubs, I'd rather know he's with you.