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Volleyball: “It’s exhausting”, the Plessis is still sailing in full doubt for its climb

It was April 17th. At the end of a crazy and unexpected epic, Le Plessis-Robinson won to everyone’s surprise his first title of champion of League B. A coronation synonymous with rise in League A. The jubilation had then invaded the club. But the joy was short-lived. Two months after this historic Saturday, the leaders still do not know if their club will be able to evolve well in the national elite. “It’s exhausting, impacting nervously,” says President Joëlle Logeais.

In question the will of the leaders of the League of volleyball to want to professionalize their three championships (League A male and female and League B male). “We are working on the definition of the pro club license, with a migration of pro clubs over three years, to arrive at what we consider to be the definition of a pro club and a pro league,” said Yves Bouget. on the LNV website. The president of the League specifying all the same that “the path is three years away and it is obvious that we will support the clubs”.

But in reality, the situation is perceived differently in Plessis. “He does not accompany us but he cuts our wings,” says Joëlle Logeais. The club received on Monday the new directives from the LNV with the obligation to have a budget greater than 1 million euros and a room suitable for the high level with a minimum of 1,500 seats. If the club has managed to double its budget – it has presented one of 1.1 M € to the DNACG which should deliver its verdict quickly and has already recruited the former international Antonin Rouzier -, should hire the requested employees and equip its room with LED panels, it does not have an enclosure of the requested capacity. The development work planned this summer to modernize it will only allow it to increase from 450 to 850 places.

“We can not do better, there are not so many rooms available in the Paris region, assures the president and mother of coach Cédric Logeais. But we are not the only club to be in this situation, to not have the right capacity. We hear about exemptions for clubs that are already in League A but not for the promoted. I do not understand why the League stigmatizes us. We know we’re the surprise guest, but I hope common sense prevails. We do not put forward sporting merit… ”

The club contacted the neighboring town of Issy-les-Moulineaux to settle in the Palais des sports but the venue’s schedule is already overloaded. He approached other towns. Thanks to the support of local political authorities, the idea of ​​building a new hall has now been launched. But it takes time, it could not come out of the ground before 2024. “We are considering the construction of a room at Plessis-Robinson or on the territory (Editor’s note: of the Vallée Sud Grand Paris intermunicipal association which brings together 11 Hauts-de-Seine municipalities), indicates Philippe Pemezec, senator from Hauts-de-Seine. I sent a message to Jean-Didier Berger (Mayor of Clamart), because it has a women’s volleyball team that also plays at a high level (2e division), to build common equipment that would be used for volleyball but also for cultural events. “

The former mayor – who should get his scarf back soon – even contacted the president of the Volleyball League. “President Bouget has the right to have an ambition for volleyball in France but I find that his attitude is contemptuous and does not correspond to my idea of ​​sport,” said Pemezec. We called on the phone and I told him. The volleyball club which achieved a magnificent performance, it is sad to see all this called into question for a story of room. “Asked this Tuesday, Yves Bouget, also president of the Tours club, was unreachable.

The League office should communicate next Monday. If the Plessis-Robinson case was retoked, the vacant place could go to the relegated Ligue A Ajaccio – who would have already refused this possibility – or to a “invited” League B club thanks to a wild card. But the leaders of Plessis intend to use all possible remedies to make their rights heard. “We have won many matches in straight sets, if we have to play another one, we will,” concludes Joëlle Logeais.

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