Rouen Métropole Basket: Sylvain Delorme Still Sidelined, Staff Confirmed Until Further Notice

The Sylvain Delorme case enters a new chapter at Rouen. A few days after cautious communication from management, Rouen Métropole Basket has now clarified the short-term situation via an official statement, though not all questions about the head coach’s future have been answered.

Communiqué officiel

Retrouvez sur notre site les dernières informations concernant la situation sur le banc de l’équipe professionnelle.

👉 Le communiqué: https://t.co/fNeYHwWgCx pic.twitter.com/RdOpsRNILu

— Rouen Métropole Basket (@RouenMBasket) January 5, 2026

A Statement Confirming Continuity… Without Delorme

In a message released on Monday, Rouen Métropole Basket indicates that, « pending the return of its head coach, Sylvain Delorme, the professional team’s coaching staff is led by Jérôme Willeman, assistant coach. » The club also specifies that he is accompanied by Kevin Chapel, youth academy coach, « to ensure sporting continuity and the team’s proper functioning. »

This official communication confirms that Sylvain Delorme is not yet able to resume his duties, several weeks after his sick leave began in late December.

A Situation Still Unresolved on the Rouen Bench

Absent for the last two Elite 2 matches – a loss against Vichy followed by an important victory at Saint-Chamond – Sylvain Delorme remains at the center of discussions both internally and externally. A key architect of the club’s promotion in 2023, the Norman coach is going through a difficult period as RMB’s 2025-2026 season struggles to meet initial ambitions.

Before this statement, president Yvan Gueuder had already tried to calm speculation in the columns of Paris Normandie, reminding that « Sylvain Delorme is on sick leave » and that the club must operate within a strict legal framework. Today’s announcement clearly follows this line: avoiding any missteps regarding a potential departure of Sylvain Delorme, currently on sick leave.

A Crucial January for RMB

On the court, Rouen currently sits in 15th place in ELITE 2 after 17 games (7 wins and 10 losses). A position below expectations, but still with a three-win cushion over the first relegation spot, Quimper. The victory at Saint-Chamond helped restart momentum, but stability on the bench remains a key issue.

January’s schedule looks demanding and revealing: hosting Hyères-Toulon on January 9, traveling to Aix-Maurienne on the 16th, welcoming Pau-Lacq-Orthez on the 23rd, then visiting Châlons-Reims on the 30th. These are all crucial matchups that will weigh heavily on RMB’s sporting trajectory… and possibly on upcoming decisions regarding its coaching staff.