Gérard Lopez puts his hand in the wallet again. Thanks to a contribution of 40 million euros, loaned by the president-owner of the club, Bordeaux announced that it had received the green light from the body to return to Ligue 2. The club was heard on Wednesday morning by the National Directorate of Control management (DNCG),
“The budget is closed. We received the green light, with an absence of restrictive measures, rejoiced the Bordeaux club which will live its first summer in three years without the sword of Damocles above its head.
Eagerly awaited by the financial policeman of French football, the Girondins presented themselves with a debt of less than 5 million euros to be paid by 2025 to their former shareholder Fortress and new guarantees on the financing of the 2023-2024 budget, including the forecast indicated an operating deficit of 38 million euros excluding transfers.
A budget close to 40 million euros for next season
To deal with it, the owner and president Gerard Lopez had made a contribution of 40 million euros on Tuesday to cover the needs of the club and thus meet the main expectations of the body, we learned from a source close to the authorities. Girondins.
Bordeaux, which missed the return to Ligue 1 on the last day of Ligue 2 after the premature end of its match against Rodez following the attack by one of its supporters on Ruthenian striker Lucas Buades, will therefore return to Ligue 2 with a budget of around 40 million euros. The players of David Guion, who has been extended for one season plus another optional one in the event of a recovery in 2024, will resume training on Monday July 3 at Haillan.
Sochaux relegated to National
The leaders of Sochaux were also heard by the DNCG on Wednesday. The body has decided to administratively demote the Doubs club, ninth in the Ligue 2 standings this season and in financial difficulty, to National 1. The club will appeal.
“FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, while recognizing the legitimacy of this decision, will appeal against it in order to produce proof of coverage by the Nenking group (owner of the club, editor’s note) of its forecast deficit for the season at come, ”reacted the club in a press release.
Nenking “must imminently release the funds provided for this purpose, and pay them to its subsidiary”, assured the club, which specifies that the Chinese conglomerate, specializing in real estate, is encountering “cash flow difficulties” due to the crisis in the real estate market in China.
During the past season, Sochaux has long struggled for the rise in Ligue 1. The Doubs club was still third in Ligue 2 on the evening of the 30th day, but ended its season with eight defeats in a row to collapse in the 9th place, 17 points from the podium and 20 from second place, synonymous with a climb.
