Volleyball (League B): a transitional season for Saint-Jean-d'Illac

With seven departures for three arrivals and the rise of young people from the training center, given the reduction in the club's budget, AS Illac is starting a three-year cycle under the leadership of Romain Sellier, confirmed as coach.

After having taken over as interim manager at the end of the season following the release of Anisse Guéchou, what is your situation within the club today?

I was confirmed as the professional team coach about ten days ago and signed a three-year contract, the duration of the project in place. As a result, we are looking for a coach for the training center.

How is the offseason going?

There were quite a few departures (seven, editor's note). Some were at the end of their careers, others left for personal reasons. As a result, we brought back players who know the club, like point guard Lucas Lilembo and forward-receiver Lohan Lefaivre. Having followed the youth academy championship, I brought in Arthur Ripoche, who was at center at Plessis-Robinson, a sure bet who deserved his chance at the professional level. Then, we brought up quite a few young players from our youth academy to join the professional squad, like Lucas Germain, center, or Maxime Convert, forward-receiver.

Is recruitment over?

Yes, because the club has reduced its budget. We'll probably have the cheapest team since the first year Illac was promoted to Ligue B. We have ten professional contracts, five full-time, three part-time, and two aspiring pros. And we'll round out the roster with four players from our youth academy.

What ambitions will this group be able to nurture?

We are starting a three-year cycle with one objective for the final year, namely to be ambitious again on the sporting level because we will also have solidified the financial side. More than a result objective, we still have the desire to develop young people to allow them to join the professional championship. So, we will try to stay in the top 5 but if we finish ^6th , it will not be penalizing. We are in a transition season in this first year. Because will we last the whole season with young players? We risk having a little irregularity but we will still look for quality and perform every weekend.

Will you be aiming for qualification for the play-offs?

No, because the playoffs will no longer exist next season. They're being replaced by a ^third phase of the championship, with a single match per matchday. We'll therefore face each team for a third time. The magic of the playoffs is disappearing, so we're a little disappointed. But the most consistent performer this season will also be rewarded with promotion to League A.

Have you set a date for resuming training?

Yes, we'll resume on August 25th, and the first day of the championship is scheduled for October 21st. That gives us two months of preparation to establish a real playing identity.

Are you going to revolutionize the Illacais game that has been advocated until now?

No, we're not going to do away with everything. There were a lot of good things before my appointment. Anisse (Guéchou) still worked for seven years with the professional squad and had two promotions from N1 to Ligue B and Ligue B to Ligue A. So we're going to try to maintain a certain philosophy, and I'm going to try to bring my ideas.