"WE DO NOT WORK ON SOMEONE ELSE'S BIDDINGS"

The purchase by Azerbaijani businessman Hafiz Mammadov of the Lens club playing in the 2nd division has aroused concerns above all among Armenians living in Paris. After grappling with financial crisis for a long time, the club gave preference to the Azerbaijani option choosing it from among plenty of lucrative offers. According to the club's president Gervais Martel, the Azerbaijani side announced at the very first meeting its ambition to develop soccer in the country and that statement drew attention. After signing the agreement, the club's players have been stepping onto the field with the caption "Land of fire Azerbaijan" on their T-shirts. In keeping with the agreement, there is the Azerbaijani flag waving over the stadium. As from next year, Azerbaijan's junior players will get opportunity to improve their skills training at a French football academy.

After seven rounds of the French League 2 football championship, Lens is heading the table with 14 points.

The French football club's president Gervais Martel has shared his vision of the cooperation, plans for the future and the team's objectives with R+.

- We would like to know about the agreement concluded with the Azerbaijani side.

- When Lens was in the grips of financial crisis, we received a number of offers. Alongside Azerbaijan, another two countries voiced their wish to support our club. We preferred to cooperate with Azerbaijan. The reason is simple: during the talks the Baku football club's president Hafiz Mammadov declared the wish to promote the development of football in Azerbaijan. They already have an agreement with Madrid's club Atletico. In the next few days I am going to Baku with our staff member Joseline Blanchard to discuss a number of issues. I am glad to have joined League 2 without debts. After signing the accord with Azerbaijan we have paid all our debts and our people have breathed a sigh of relief. Now we can work normally. Everything will be good with us in time.

- The press has reported the Armenian diaspora countering this cooperation… 

- We received several letters. Some people did not want us to cooperate with Azerbaijan and recommended other firms. At that moment I made an open statement on my consent to work with the Azerbaijani side, to be more specific, with the Baku club and its management. We do not work at someone else's bidding.

- Madrid's Atletico has held a friendly match in Baku. Are you planning to hold such a game?

- Quite possibly, Lens may arrive in Azerbaijan next year or some other time. In the next few days we are going to discuss this issue and then announce the precise date of our club's visit. We are always ready to visit your country. We just need to choose a favourable time.

- Have you seen games played by the Baku club?

- Great attention is given to sports in Azerbaijan. Thanks to this fact most soccer clubs have excellent bases. The Baku club not only has excellent conditions but also good players. We often speak about this with the club's president Hafiz Mammadov. We even wanted to invite several players from Baku to Lens.

- Why did their transfer fail to take place?

- Chief coach Milinko Pantic found it reasonable to keep those players in Baku in order to achieve results. Yet he is sure that this will happen in the future without fail.

- In keeping with the agreement, Azerbaijan's junior team will train at Lens's base.

- We've already had guests from the Baku club. The club's junior team trained at our base. I hope the one-week trip left a pleasant impression on them. More trips have been planned for Azerbaijan's junior team during the next few months. One or two junior players will stay in Lens's camp to undergo a longer training. The main objective is to assist soccer development in Azerbaijan. 

- Is it realistic to expect to see an Azerbaijani player playing on Lens's team in the future?

- Yes, certainly. We all wish that. We'd like very much to have several Azeri players on the Lens team. We may possibly select players from among the juniors who have arrived and some time later they will be playing for our club. Baku's chief coach Milinko Pantic knows about our intention to admit some of the juniors to the younger team. 

- What are the team's main aims?

- As you know Lens is playing in League 2. All soccer teams dream to play in the Premier League. We have formed a strong team. We have no financial problems. Now we only need a result. When signing the agreement with Azerbaijan, our partner also expressed their wish for us to aim high. We like such aims too.

- Lens started preparations late but nonetheless it was a good start.

- To be honest, it was somewhat unexpected to us. The team gathered somewhat late because of the sale of the club's shares. There were delays with new transfers too. Nonetheless chief coach Antoine Kombouare managed to get the team ready in three weeks. In this context, our current position on the table is quite a surprise for us.

The team's chief coach is a very experienced high-class specialist. A proof to this is his activity at PSJ. In addition Kombouare is an extremely disciplined man. This makes people heed his advice because he knows perfectly well the things he speaks about.

- Each game of the team is watched by more than 30,000 fans. Do you think the club will live up to their hopes?

- There is nothing unusual about it. We had good relations with our fans in the past as well. But our confidence has increased since the start of the new stage. I can already feel new improvements in Lens. But we should not fall into euphoria. We intend to conquer a much higher level before the end of the season next May. Our team must take a worthy place and return to the Premier League.

- Thank you for the interview. 

- I also thank you. Give my love to entire Azerbaijan.