“When we arrived, the club was in a state of brain death,” assures Jean-Michel Vidal, the resigning president of ASBH.

The resigning president of the ASBH was to remain at the head of the club for one year. He passed four. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

State of play, club finances, staff, regrets, joys… The resigning president of the ASBH looks back on the four years he spent at the club.

Why did you decide to leave the presidency of the club and what state of mind are you in today??

There was a lot of weariness. It is a very demanding job. I am sorry to say it, but I had really had enough! Today, I feel happy and relieved. Managing a rugby club is not easy. I was supposed to be there for a year. It lasted 4 years. The presidents of the great ASB took turns every 3 years. So I did one more.

Did you do your job voluntarily ?

It was four years of pure volunteer work. No one will ever find a single invoice at the club concerning me. Travel, restaurants or other… I always paid for everything.

“Recognition is the dog's disease that is not transmissible to humans”

Looking in the rearview mirror, you realize that the club is no longer the same…

When we arrived, he was brain dead. There was also the Covid-19 period, without any income… At that time, we had to face a deficit of more than 3 million euros. There were no more assets. The refreshment bars, the brewery, part of the boxes… These revenues no longer reached the SASP. All these assets have been recovered. We do not owe a cent to anyone. We even managed to offer free subscriptions for the season following the pandemic. We were the only club in France to do it.

We also had to work a lot on the sporting level, didn't we?

The sportsman was also adrift. Little by little, we rebuilt him. Players, sports or medical staff… We built a new group. Last season, we finished third in Pro D2 and our training center was ranked first among the clubs in the division. We can only be satisfied.

Did you get the recognition you deserved ?

I didn't do it for that and as they say: “Recognition is a dog's disease not transmissible to humans !"

“Those who criticized me made me move forward”

You have not been spared on social networks. Have you suffered from it ?

I never go on social media. I don't see any point in it. I've been told that idiots and clowns call me a bowler and Michaël Guedj a rag merchant. At least we are already that. All those who criticized me helped me move forward.

If you had any thanks to give, who would it be to ?

The first one I would like to thank is my friend Bruno Boivin. He is a national banking expert. Without him, the club's finances would be far from being at this level. He has spent countless hours taking care of the finances, also on a voluntary basis. Michaël Guedj has also helped us, even though health problems have kept him away from the club. There are also, of course, the employees and volunteers who now work a little differently. It is one of the smallest teams in professional rugby clubs but certainly one of the most efficient and endearing! The sports staff worked hard with Pierre Caillet at the helm. It was necessary to appoint him, then support him in difficult times. I am stubborn and certainly sometimes, it helps… I also do not forget the partners, present in difficult times, the supporters, the institutions and, of course, the mayor. If he had not decided to “take over” the club, we would be in the Federal.

We have seen many former players return to the stadium. It's important to you?

It's nice to hear them say they're enjoying themselves, to receive messages of thanks from these legends.

This club is healthy and in working order

How do you see the future of the club ?

This club is healthy and in working order. This was Robert Ménard's request. The team built for the upcoming season is in my opinion better than last year's. Whether it will perform as well, I don't know. As for the buyer, that doesn't concern me. That's up to the mayor and the SCIC, who hold 68% of the club's shares. This has nothing to do with the SASP we managed.
This season's budget will be balanced, despite a 20% increase in players' wages, validated by the Rugby Regulatory Authority (ex-DNACG). If our successors don't go crazy, there shouldn't be a problem. Knowing that money isn't everything and that the differential is starting to become significant. This year, at least six teams will have a budget twice as large as ours. In the long run, it will be more and more complicated to compete financially.

Do you have any regrets ?

First of all, and it is huge, it is to leave without leaving the club in the Top 14. We were robbed of victory in Vannes. And I have the deep conviction that we would have won one of the two matches for promotion.

What memories will you keep ?

There are many… I think of days and nights of anguish when everything is lacking, whether it be human or financial, the fact of having to balance a budget despite the incessant, but legitimate, demands of the sports staff. The worry of having a homogeneous staff and a team in line with our means. Matches lost or won at the last minute, joys, sorrows. I also think of strong words that players have said to me. They will remain forever engraved in my memory.

What would you say to your successors ?

That they must immerse themselves in this very special club, that they love it, support it and accompany it in difficult times. They will have a real army behind them, which only this legendary club has. ASBH has a unique history, it continues and new pages will be written. I am convinced of it.

Bruno Boivin: “A healthy club”

Bruno Boivin managed the club's finances. He explains that when he arrived, the deficit was “3 million euros” including asset disposals and various debts. The current cash position is approximately 1.30 million euros. The SASP's only debt is the PGE, which is repaid according to the amortization schedule. The capital still owed to date is 750 thousand euros. This PGE amounted to 1.54 million euros. It will be repaid in July 2026. He also explains that “there are no financial flows between the SASP and the SCIC, which is exclusively managed by the town hall, Robert Ménard having always been kept informed of our management and our decisions. Our mission with Jean-Michel Vidal ends with a healthy club, attractive enough for motivated and ambitious buyers."

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