Tours FC... From The Wilderness

Wow, what just happened? July 2018, Tours FC are relegated from Ligue 2 for the first time in 10 years to the Championnat National then a double relegation to the Championnat National 3 which included an administration relegation.

Tours FC are now in the 5th Division of French Football, and despite never having a big following or being in Ligue 1 since the 80's, I am taking over after living in the region on Youth Exchange in 2001... I want to repay my faith in the City where I spent 12 months living in the atmosphere of the great wine region of France.

Notable players are few and far between in the past, with Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny being the two biggest players to wear the blue and white.

Once loaded, I will do 3 updates per season, 2 transfers and a final season wrap up. This I can only imagine will be long and painful :-( but am doing this as my first ever story to keep me interested!

Allez Les Bleus!

Love the French leagues, I am following, good luck!

Really pleased to see someone look to 'revive' after witnessing their demise down the divisions. Best of luck, I'll be following with great interest!

I was welcomed to the Stade de la Vallee du Cher (capacity of 16,000 which is great, just have to fill it!) by the chairman, Jean-Marc Ettori and set about our expectations for the season. After the 3 relegations over two seasons, things are grim and the squad was cleared out. Being a semi proffessional outfit now too will have it challenges.But I only have to finish in the top 3, so that shouldn't be too hard.



One of my first signings was Loic Jean Baptiste to play as my number 10 in my preferred 4-2-3-1 (one of the 2 midfielders sits as a DM) setup. Nice passer of the ball and can strike a goal. He is also being bought back to the club where he came through as a junior in the 15/16 season.



As my defense was good enough to build around, I targeted the midfield and wings of which I had none! Nathan Epaillard was signed to connect the defense and offense and sits infront of the back 4, whilst Adama Doumbia is a right winger but will spend most of his time playing on the left and cutting inboard.



As the team has barely any reserves or U19s, I have left my DoF to recruit players to top up the development squads with Mohamed Ali Mohamed being the best so far and good enough to be on the bench.



So the transfer market has now slammed shut and we are 4 games into the season. Senior transfers were wrapped up before the season started so they could be bedded into the squad during pre season. In all honesty, the loss to FC Ingolstadt 04 and draw against Eibar were really promising and lead into a strong start to the campaign.



Lets see how the next 6 months go until the end of the January transfer window!

That "best of the rest" goal is bizzarreeee hahaha

Some really good signings for that level. A decent start to the season, too!

A great start to the season going unbeaten to kick it off. Hopefully this can be built on for the rest of the season!

So after a unbeaten start that lasted 3 months, I was flying high and had only had one game where I had managed to not score a goal. First loss sadly came in the 7th round of the league cup, but it was to Paris FC, board not overly happy after failing to make it to the 8th round, but I think they'll look over that.

Now we've had 2 losses in the league, to the other top teams which mean I maybe just a little off the pace.



With a lack of transfers and wage budget at zero, I have only made one signing at the end of January and will be due to play his first against another top side and as my strikers aren't setting the world on fire, have splashed out on a new striker who will hopefully get me back to the top by the end of the season.

Marco just scored and assisted one on debut in a 3-1 win against 3rd placed Avoine Chinon... cracking start to life on the Loire

Hopefully you can regain your spot at the top of the table when it matters the most.Pleased that your new signing has made an immediate impact!

Absolutely terrific start with the team in great form, would love to see a table in your updates

With only 2 games left in the season and after tying up a top 3 finish, Chairman Jean Marc Ettori offered me a new 2 year contract worth $725 a week (almost what I'm currently getting paid in my job). I happily accepted this offer as I believe they are going to back me going forward.



So coming into the last game of the year, all I really need to do is get a draw away at 4th placed FC Ouest Tourangeau 37 whilst 2nd place Bourges 18 travel to Verizon FC. Have only had one loss since the Winter Transfer closed and happily sit above the rest of the league.



Despite a woeful final game, losing 2-0 to FC Ouest, luckily for us, Bourges 18 also were on the end of a loss handing Tours FC the Championnat National 3 title and promotion to the Championnat National 2.





Bringing back Loic Jean-Baptiste to the club was a masterstroke. He ran the forward half of midfield like a boss with his 12 goals, 5 assists and producing 16 key chances.
The mid season signing of Marco Ramskilde was what turned it around for me I think, slotting 7 in 8 games, will be good to see what he can do after stepping up a level.
But our player of the season was won by our DM Nathan Epaillard, shielding the defense and getting our attacks started whilst still chipping in with 6 goals.







Unfortunately have lost a few players due to wage demands, including our ever present keeper Jules Goda. I'm hoping if he doesn't sign anywhere else that he will come back, but now the offseason is ready for me to be scouting to improve yet again. Main priority this season will be a left back, goal keeper (if Jules won't resign) and fleshing out the squad.

Congratulations. The rebuild begins!

2019-12-13 11:26#263840 ScottT : Congratulations. The rebuild begins!

Looking forward to getting into it tonight after work with a few beers

Congrats on both the new contract and the title win!