The Tarbes court (Hautes-Pyrénées) placed the Tarbes Gespe Bigorre (TGB) association, which manages the women’s basketball club, in liquidation, putting an end to 42 years of existence. Its management is preparing a new project.
It’s the final whistle for Tarbes Gespe Bigorre (TGB). This historic women’s basketball club from the Hautes-Pyrénées was placed this Friday, January 16, 2026 in liquidation by the Tarbes court. Its leaders announced this to its members in a press release published on social networks, just before the court officially confirmed it:
“Following the hearing on December 19 at the Tarbes court, it was decided to put the TGB association into compulsory liquidation. The deliberations will be made this Friday, January 16, 2026. The finding made through the club’s council and the legal representative, who has been officiating since the 2015 recovery procedure, remains final: without professional activities, there are no more matches, therefore no more revenue and an impossibility of continuing to pay the fees. expenses and salaries maintained for the eight employees.”
In its letter, the club also points the finger at “the €50,000 owed by the Tarbes town hall which were not paid, even though they would have made it possible to cover the remaining salaries as well as part of the supplier debts.“
This decision puts an end to 42 years of existence and a magnificent track record: the Ronchetti Cup (1996), a French championship title (2010), and three French Cups (1996, 1997, 1998). It is also the epilogue of a bitter battle. In receivership since 2015, the club no longer had the means to continue its activity despite the efforts of its managers, in particular Jeannie Cointre who took over at its head two years ago. “The takeover of the club in 2023 by Jeannie Cointre, in order to save it from a first liquidation (by maintaining Laurent Cochain as deputy president), represented a major challenge. The TGB had then escaped regional relegation and was able to experience two exceptional sporting seasons (…) Significant work was carried out to restore financial balance, an objective achieved in the first year of Jeannie Cointre’s mandate, with a positive result of + €74,000”, greets the TGB.
Last August, the club was relegated from League 2 to the third division (NF1) by the French basketball federation for the 2025-2026 season. A hard blow for the sports structure which had appealed the initial decision highlighting the serious consequences for its players, its fans, and its employees. Without success. A month later, the Management Control Commission, “refused the commitment of the senior women’s team to NF1.”
The leaders of the TGB therefore take note of the decision of the Tarbes court. But they are also preparing the club’s rebound. If the placement in compulsory liquidation rings “the end of a cycle”, he also marks “the start of a new page for Bigourdan basketball”, they reveal.
They announce that“a new project led by part of the club’s current management office is being structured. Training and support for young talents will form the basis. It will be a civic and economic project, with high added value for the region. In the coming months, a new political context could emerge, opening the way to a renewed vision and new opportunities”, declares the sports association, which hopes to return to the game.
Related reading
