With its past in D1, the announced renovation of its stadium, projects for young people and popular enthusiasm since June 2020can the Cité du Doudou club follow in the footsteps of Corkof RFB and some RAAL, all promoted these last two seasons to D1B? Managing Director, Bernard Courcelles lifts a corner of the veil.
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Let’s get straight to the heart of the matter. Will Mons be the next Walloon club in the Challenger Pro League?
”We don’t want to be so pretentious. First, our ambitions will be to play in the playoffs (Editor's note: the top 6 of the twelve D1 ACFF teams will play playoffs for the rise). With the reform and given the teams that will come up with us, we say to ourselves that there is obviously a card to play. We are also going to strengthen our core for this. And then, depending on how the season goes, we will see if we can already aim for a new climb. If not, we will postpone our ambitions. In the medium term, we want to go to D1B by 2026.”
Everything is aligning well to achieve our goals.
With Dante Brogno, we suspect that the team will not aim for a quiet season. Won't that force you to speed up the movement?
”That’s what we’re already preparing for now. We have meetings planned with the City of Mons which gives us great support. The idea is also to recover premises in Tondreau because we lack space for the canteen or the gym. We will also increase the club's total budget by 20%. (Editor’s note: 1.6 million this season) and the share allocated to the first team.”
But behind the scenes, is the club armed enough?
”The committee is made up of nine members and we manage to distribute tasks well. The next step is to strengthen yourself. Concretely, we targeted profiles for administrative, operational, commercial and to ensure on-site monitoring. We don't have an army of employees, but what matters to us above all is skills. Obviously, to climb into the Pro League, additional redevelopment will be necessary. The sports unit will need to be strengthened if only for everything that involves image analysis. Soon, the non-profit organization will become a commercial company, with shares shared 50-50 between me and Hubert (Editor's note: Ewbank, the president). It’s an essential step too.”
We draw inspiration from Walloon successes to move forward.
Is two enough?
”It’s true that we are injecting money to continue to boost the project. We dream of seeing three or four large companies from Mons or the region join us. The idea of opening up the capital is also on the table. And why not look abroad while maintaining local roots? Because budgets will inevitably increase over the seasons. With three, four million, how long can we stay in the Challenger Pro League? And then, I don't think that setting up in D1B is financially interesting. Either you go up or you go back down to N1.”
Do you already have any leads?
”For now, the priority is to remain independent. The idea of being a satellite club while keeping the RAEC DNA is not bad. The example of the Union is interesting at this level. Before thinking about that, you have to go up anyway. But there is no question of losing the identity after having sweated to relaunch this club.
And a merger with the Francs Borains like this was almost the case with the RAQM in 2020 ? An aborted merger which initiated the return of RAEC Mons.
”As a reminder, it was the RFB which withdrew. It was a great regional project but in the current situation, it is no longer possible at all.”
Among all these recent rises, what example could you follow?
”Everyone has their strengths. We try to learn from everyone. These are just good examples since everyone is moving up. Even if sporting rivalry exists, I advocate Walloon mutual aid. Let's be smart to pull each other up. This will allow us to fill our stadiums more.”
A merger with the RFB is no longer on the cards.
According to you, nothing can stop you from joining the D1B? Even the current half-stadium?
”Despite its situation, it is approved for D1B. We will know the renovation project within two months and then it will take its course. In fact, everything is aligned quite the opposite to achieve our goals. It's hyperpositive. There are more and more people at the stadium, the partners are following more and more…”
