Poitiers
After winning French championship Tours faced with many departures. Czech MB Petr Konecny retired so they needed to find replacement. They found it in Ajaccio’s MB Stanislav Simin. Another MB joined Tours, Gerald Hardy Dessources returned in France after just one season abroad. Experienced MB was part of Tours in 2005. when they won Champions league.
Great setter Rafael Redwitz finished his story in Tours and went in Russia. He signed contract with Iskra Odintsovo but Tours brought Portugese setter Nuno Pinheiro from Poitiers.
Outside hitters Terzić and Cala also left Tours and club decided to sign French outside hitter Emmanuel Ragondet. Ragondet previously played for Sete and Paris.
Argentinian libero Alexis Gonzalez is returning to his homeland and will be replaced with fomer Beauvais player Florian Kilama. Ajaccio strenghted squad with 2 very good players.
After one season in Nantes setter Rusmir Halilović returned in Ajaccio. One of the best opposite in last few seasons Jovica Simovski landed on Corsica. Macedonian opposite signed 2 year contract and is considered as a key player.
After Krolis (Paris) and Halilović (Ajaccio) left Nantes wave of contract extensions affecting the club. Jorge Fernandez, Ales Holubec, Karel Linz, Jiri Bence and Roger Benedict extended contracts for at least one season. From Cannes came setter Toafa Takaniko as a replacement for Halilović and Spanish NT opposite Iban Perez. Belgian outside hitter Jimmy Prenen and setter Arnaud Soleilland leaving Nantes.
Rennes found replacements for Romain Vadeleux and Jaromir Kolacny. Rodney Ah-Kong, Nice MB, will replace Vadeleux who is still waiting proposals from clubs. From new Polish champions, Asseco Resovia Rzeszow, Rennes signed Romanian opposite Adrian Gontariu.
French league MVP, libero Jenia Grebennikov, signed one year contract and will stay in Rennes.
After Edouard Rowlandson another player leaving Sete. French NT opposite Marien Moreau is leaving Sete and probably going in Asia. Main reason for this is financial, as Moreau said he wants to earn more money.
Slovakian NT opposite Milan Bencz signed contract with Arago de Sete. Bencz is coming from Roma Volley and got heavy duty to replace the best league scorer Marien Moreau. Bencz is third signing for Sete after German libero Ferdinand Tille and MB Lukas Bauer.
French MB Jose Trefle signed new contract.
Situation in Poitiers is quite hard. Due financial difficulties there are no new contracts in Poitiers but captain Nicholas Marechal surely leaving Poitiers. His next destination could be Cannes. Also setter Audric could join him on French riviera. Nuno Pinheiro already signed with Tours. Petrović, Wanderson, Alpha and Zopie are still in talks with club and there is possibility for them to stay.
Cannes extended contracts with MB/opposite Kevin Le Roux (2 years) and MB Pashytskyy but still in search for new setter after Takaniko departure.
Pierre Pujol is the first wish after he left Kielce. American outside hitter Robert Tarr is still in negotiations regarding new contract while Canadian outside hitter Nicholas Cundy and Cameroon NT opposite David Feughouo are leaving Cannes.
Narbonne got new coach. Italian born Gianpaolo Medei will lead club in new season. Medei was assistant coach in Modena this season. For now Narbonne signed only one player, libero Rija Rafidison while setter Moreno and outside hitter Patuc left the club.
