Franck Haise is returning to Nice with Rennes, merely two months after his departure from the club. He also resided in Saint-Jeannet. His return to the Allianz Riviera might be met with a somewhat frosty reception. “I’m not going to get 100% (of people happy to see me again), that’s for sure,” he noted. He added that he had tried to give 100% while he was there and that he met many great people within and outside the club.
Haise’s Departure Agreement
Haise did not leave on bad terms with president Jean-Pierre Rivère. Both men reached an agreement for the club’s benefit at the end of December when negotiating his departure. Despite having 42 months remaining on his contract, he reportedly departed for the equivalent of four months’ salary. Indemnification was capped in his contract.
The Haise chapter concluded after a one-year romance and a difficult final two months. This occurred ten days after Rivère and Maurice Cohen replaced Fabrice Bocquet as president. It also followed a Coupe de France qualification against Saint-Étienne, succeeding nine consecutive defeats in L1 and the Europa League.
Deterioration at Nice
Nice were 13th in L1 and 36th in C3. Rivère explained that after witnessing the match against Saint-Étienne, he realised the problems were deep-rooted and they had reached the end of a cycle.
The beginning of the end can likely be traced back to the summer transfer window. This period was marked by a change in leadership, with Rivère’s departure and Bocquet’s promotion. Haise saw the departure of Evann Guessand, Marcin Bulka, Badredine Bouanani, Gaëtan Laborde, and Pablo Rosario. The club appeared to prioritise sales over the owner’s investment, with Mahdi Camara favouring Rennes due to a more advantageous contract.
Haise extended his contract by two years in mid-August, until 2029. Discussions had commenced at the end of July and concluded after the third preliminary round of the Champions League against Benfica. The official announcement was only made after the transfer window on 5 September. Difficulties on the pitch grew, exposing the limitations of a transfer window in which Haise participated via video calls with recruits, the indifference of the owner, and a perceived lack of unity.
Tension Before Leaving Nice
According to someone close to a player, things were fragile. It wasn’t chaos but things weren’t working as they had before.
Haise criticised his players, raising concerns about their character, demands, and attitude, such as after the Fribourg match. This potentially strained the atmosphere. He felt he was doing what he could, rather than what he wanted. A source close to a player said that it wasn’t chaos, but it was fragile and not responding as before.
Haise stated he lost energy in areas that weren’t his. He attempted to do his best while at Nice, where he met many good people.