MARIGOT—St. Martin is now classified as a league within the French Federation of Football (FFF) and no longer a district, association President Fabrice Baly has disclosed.
The change of status received a favourable vote on December 12, 2015, by the Federal Assembly and gives St. Martin full autonomy in running its affairs. The change is due to be ratified in the upcoming Congress on May 9, 2016.
Baly explained the change came about as a result of the district’s request a few years ago to separate from Guadeloupe and the associated problems of communication, a situation that existed since 1982.
“The request was reinforced and followed up by us,” he noted. “Now that we are a league we have more managerial responsibility as we are no longer managed by Guadeloupe. All decisions are taken locally, we manage our own licenses and player registration and validation, and we can accept or deny player qualifications.
“It also means we have more responsibility to the Federation; we have to answer their questions, submit our reports which can be of financial, technical nature or where it concerns football development; explain what are we doing with the kids and the selections, etc. So we are accountable directly to the Federation.”
The league is also directly accountable to the clubs in St. Martin unlike the past when Guadeloupe shouldered that responsibility and St. Martin had a secondary role.
“This is a great change for us” he continued. “We have the possibility to be exposed to a higher level of competition, access to La Coupe de France for the 15 years and up for example, which is the main reason for this.
“We’ve forged a close relationship with the Federation, we have instigated exchanges and they sent their people to visit us and do assessments. So they know the progress we have made in terms of management and know our ambitions going forward.
“And bringing to light our legal and geographical situation as a Collectivité added to the historical difficulties with Guadeloupe, helped to justify granting us league status.”
Baly indicated to function properly in an administrative sense, a minimum of four competent persons are required in technical, administration, development, and secretarial departments. Ideally a fifth person in charge of marketing, communications and event planning, is envisaged.
Technical Director Hervé Happy explained his role is to restructure football in St. Martin bringing it to a higher more positive level, support training programmes of clubs, ensure football officials are trained and qualified, selecting national teams, and developing women’s football.
Creating a partnership and exchange programme with the football club of Montpelier whereby youngsters from St. Martin with strong potential can train with that club with technical staff also going there too to be exposed to a higher level of officiating, is also on the cards.
A plan for the future is to have a three-way agreement between Collectivité, National Education and Federation via the league to develop a Center of Excellence.
