Bordeaux Launches Regional 1 Campaign After Turbulent Summer
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux finally kicks off its competitive league season this Friday evening at 19:00 at the Stade Didier Deschamps. Newly appointed club president Dominique Delport will be present in Bayonne to witness the fixture, which was ultimately opened to supporters. Friday, October 16, 2026, marks the start of a new chapter for the six-time French champions. Rescued from judicial liquidation in late September by the investment fund Park Bench, the club enters the sixth tier of French football in the Régional 1 division.
Delport succeeds Gérard Lopez at the helm of the club. He will attend the fixture alongside general manager Arnaud Saint-André, who has been retained in his operational role. Together, they will oversee a reinforced squad that has added several experienced players following an elimination in the 4th round of the Coupe de France. The recruitment drive brought in three former professionals—Bastien Guillaume, Baptiste Isola, and Namaroko Diallo—while the club awaits the return of 2009 French champion Benoît Trémoulinas.
Coaching Staff Takes Shape Under Arnaud Cormier
Arnaud Cormier takes charge of the first team with an explicit mandate to target promotion to National 2 this season. Having served as assistant to Rio Mavuba during the previous campaign, Cormier inherits a core group of six players who nearly achieved promotion to Ligue 3 last spring before financial sanctions from the DNCG intervened. Soufiane Bahassa, Nadjib Cissé, Ruben Droehnlé, Léo Jousselin, Steve Shamal, and Driss Trichard have all officially committed to continuing their careers in the Marine and White shirts. The coaching setup received another significant addition on Thursday when the club officialised the arrival of Paul Baysse as assistant coach to Cormier. The former central defender and club captain, who has spent recent seasons coaching youth players, will combine his new senior responsibilities with his ongoing work managing the U17 National squad.
The restructuring of the technical department mirrors a broader organizational overhaul. According to official club communications, Dominique Delport steps into the presidency bringing an extensive international background in media and strategic consulting, having previously served as general manager of the Havas group, president of Vivendi Content, and international president of VICE Media. Head coach Arnaud Cormier brings prior professional experience from spells directing Le Mans in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2—where he notably won the Coupe Gambardella in 2004—alongside assistant coaching roles at Montpellier and Metz. General manager Arnaud Saint-André, who joined the club in November 2024 following spells with Paris FC, Stade Malherbe Caen, and Quevilly Rouen Métropole, retains operational oversight to coordinate administrative and sporting activities.
Supporters Secure Access to Stade Didier Deschamps
After enduring matches behind closed doors during their Coupe de France fixtures—though small groups of ultras managed to negotiate entry into the sports complex in Saintes—Bordeaux supporters will have their supporters in the stands for the first time this season. While authorities initially debated a complete ban on traveling fans, a ticket office will open on Friday afternoon outside the Stade Didier Deschamps in Bayonne. Organizers have allocated a visiting enclosure holding close to 500 places inside the 1,500-capacity venue.
Aviron Bayonnais FC set ticket prices at 15 euros to cover substantial security expenses. The Basque club cited the events of the previous May, when clashes during a match for promotion to Ligue 3 resulted in significant property damage to seating at the Stade Jean-Dauger and heavy financial losses for the host club. The leadership at Bordeaux continues to await formal homologation of its continuation plan by the Bordeaux Commercial Court in early November before holding a wider public address.
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