The latent conflict between the town hall of Biarritz, the association which manages the amateur sector and the professional club of Biarritz Olympique is far from being buried.
Recently, the mayor of Biarritz, Maïder Arosteguy, decided to participate in the “Aguiléra project” (renovation of the stadium, creation of a modern training center), after long months of struggle with the city club.
The BO must also face a latent conflict between the leaders of the pro section and the Association, led by David Couzinet and other former club members (Harinordoquy, Yachvili, Traille ...), which takes care of the sector. amateur and has the club's affiliation number with the FFR.
To discover
Calendar and results Top 14
Ranking Top 14
Read alsoTop 14: the leaders of Biarritz want the departure of the president of the association, the “Aguiléra project” still at a standstill
After more than three years of boycotting the
Sud Ouest
newspaper
, the president of the BO management board has chosen to reconnect with the local daily to deliver his version of the facts.
“
I went to see Mr. Couzinet with a proposal: 100,000 euros for him to play amateur rugby and take care of his teams.
In exchange, we got back the training center.
He was to give me an answer after the general assembly of the association, he
explains
.
I called him on Thursday.
He replied that he was busy renewing his Etxola Bibi
(seaside cafe)
concession.
with Madam Mayor.
On Friday, I received an email: he didn't have time.
I discovered his explanations in your columns on Saturday.
It seemed good to me to answer him by the communication path he had chosen.
"
Love and fresh water are not going to pay us for the stadium and the training center so the question is how we launch and pay for this stadium
Jean-Baptiste Aldigé
And the Biarrot leader asserted: “
David
(Couzinet)
, if you want to participate, it is not by opening your beak, it is by putting the dough on the table.
It's the Gave family, it's the same.
The SASP belongs to Louis-Vincent Gave
(president and owner of the club, editor's note)
.
He made me chairman
(of the management board)
and Matthew Clarkin athletic director, that's it. The asso, it has nothing to do in our sports policy. At what time do I need MM. Couzinet and Yachvili trust me? We do not care. Money does not make the world, we will not take anything after our deaths, blah, that's great. I don't need the volunteers. Love and fresh water are not going to pay us for the stadium and the training center so the question is how we launch and pay for this stadium.
"
A stance, dry and clear as Jean-Baptiste Aldigé is used to it, which will not calm relations with those who are called "the Galactics" at the head of the association and are supported by the town hall of Biarritz .
"Ms. Arosteguy does not want to interfere by taking Couzinet out of the association, but on September 15, it wasn't interference to put him there?" She activates (Sébastien) Beauville
(ex-president of the BO Association, Editor's note)
in April, there are repercussions on the club. It activates the Galactics - that we should rather call the cafetiers - there are repercussions,
the Basque leader lashes out in the
South West
.
It removes the subsidy of 350,000 from the SASP to give it to the association, there are repercussions.
Of course they weren't going to the association!
There had to be a maximum of 70,000 who went to the association.
The rest we kept at SASP. ”
The atmosphere is far from appeased in Biarritz ...