After coming very close to going into liquidation at the end of last year, the club will finally go back to National 3 this season (2022-2023). Stephane Paganelli former physical trainer of Montpellier and AC Ajaccio will be the head coach. Robert Bonardi, a “red and blue”, will be his assistant and physical trainer. Jerome Lemoignea young retiree since 2018 and already at the club last season, is appointed technical and sports manager.
In the longer term, a large-scale project was presented this Thursday, July 14 to the press by Johann Carta. The businessman is the new president of the Gazelec Ajaccioand as much on the substance as on the form, the presentation is sharp.
The challenge: to return to Ligue 2 within five years. Downgraded in 2021 to the fifth division (National 3), the mythical Ajaccien club has just had the last 4 very tough seasons, both sportingly and humanly. But yet the GFC Ajaccio has the means of its ambitions, assures the new president.
Family spirit always, under conditions now
“I want the GFCA to be a benchmark at the social, educational and sporting levels. The GFCA must be a major player in social inclusion”, lists this restorer by trade. He says he is ready to get personally involved so that the club regains its splendor in all sectors, but also that the stadium of Mezzavia regains its festive spirit and even “that the opposing teams are afraid”. However, the business manager lays down its conditions in terms of exemplarity.
“Yes I want the atmosphere yes I want the party, but on the other hand, I don’t want the opposing teams to be afraid, the club being penalised”, warns Johann Carta. The penalty will be “radical” : “These people will be banned for life from the stadium”. A house rate that will apply to anyone in the club or around will fail to respect the obligations of institutions and its components. The stated goal is to make the stadium serene, for everyone.
Without revealing everything (the budget will be communicated later as well as the complete organization chart) the new president already sees far for the mythical Ajaccien club, and this despite many difficulties. The stadium must also be the subject of preliminary studies on its foundations, announced the new president. The goal is to completely renovate it. In the meantime, the price of subscriptions is set at €10, and the price of the ticket at €1. “Everything will be donated to associations”even specifies Johann Carta, who invokes the dignity of the reception conditions which for him is also to be found.
“My personality is what it is”
Last point, the personality of the buyer. The Ajaccien businessman therefore bought the shares of Anthony Perrino, Mathieu Messina-Arrighi and Pierre Anchetti, managers who had taken over from Olivier Miniconi. But Antony Perrino, Christophe Ettori and Olivier Miniconi, former leaders of the club are worried by the justice, in the financial part of the investigation of the Marseille JIRS on the band of “Little Bar”. A trial will be held in February. The proximity, in particular, of Anthony Perrino, ex-CEO of Corse-Matin, with presumed members of the so-called “Little bar” have caused damage to the club recently. But that, the new president says he wants to put in the past, and look ahead.
That said, Johann Carta is also considered to be a party to the financial misdeeds of this Ajaccian gang by the police and according to the press. He had even been placed in police custody a year ago, before being released without a charge. Does this pose any difficulties in the GFCA redesign project?
“No, unless tomorrow people confuse what they shouldn’t confuse. My personality is what it is, and the club will reflect the mentality that I have, the values that are the mine. […] But today, I have zero problem with justice. And the journalists who enjoy doing articles by putting me in certain files are completely off the mark. Ajaccio is a village, I know everyone. I grew up and went to school with people who are my friends and who will remain my friends”replies the interested party.
– Olivier Castel