It's not Qatar but it is already that.
An Australian investment fund signed a partnership agreement on Saturday with Canet Roussillon FC, a resident of the 4th division, which it wants to raise to Ligue 2 within three to five years, with an immediate contribution of 1.5 million d 'euros, we learned from the Catalan club.
Athlon CIF was looking to invest in a French amateur club and was seduced by the great adventure last season in the Coupe de France des Canétois, executioners of Marseille (Ligue 1) in the round of 16 before falling arms in hand in the quarterfinals against Montpellier. "This exceptional course in the Coupe de France has shed light on our club," manager Jordi Delclos told AFP on Sunday.
The first contacts between the two parties took place more than three months ago, through the Narbonnais Gilbert Ysern, former director general of the French Tennis Federation and boss of Roland-Garros.
The negotiations, kept confidential, culminated this weekend with the creation of a professional sporting limited company (SASP) and an initial investment of 1.5 million euros which more than doubled the budget of Canet RFC ( 1.1 million).
" Why us ?
"
The Australian project was initially received with “a lot of caution” and questions - “Why us?
"- by the Catalan leaders, does not hide Mr. Delclos, who assures to have obtained since sufficient guarantees to" protect "the club.
One week before the resumption of the Nationale 2 and one month before the end of the transfer market, the young manager will have to work to strengthen the workforce with the new budget.
He will work alongside a new sports director, the former international Gérald Passi, who arrived in the suitcases of the Australian fund, which intends to invest in other European clubs of the third or fourth division with the intention of bringing them up.
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"We had targeted the potential of five clubs in France of National 2. By virtue of its healthy geographical and financial situation, Canet seemed obvious to us", declared to the daily L'Indépendant the boss of Athlon CIF and new president of the SASP of Canétoise David Gibson.
“It was the perfect place to invest.
A club with a strong identity, of good level, which we could help aim much higher, ”added this former rugby player, who had already invested in RC Narbonne (Pro D2) in the 2010s via the FG Management fund.