The Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux should compete in Régional 1 this season after the steering committee of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine football league met on a Thursday afternoon, as reported. The decision arrives just two days after the league’s control commission delivered a positive advisory opinion regarding the club’s administrative integration into the sixth tier of French football.
Bordeaux Publishes League Schedule After Formal Approval
With the Nouvelle-Aquitaine steering committee giving its formal approval, Bordeaux has published its official league schedule across its club social media channels. Placed in Poule B, the club will kick off its league campaign on Friday, October 16, at 19:00 local time (UTC+2) at the Stade Didier-Deschamps against the reserve team of Aviron Bayonnais during the fifth round of matches. The first four rounds of the season have been postponed and will be rescheduled for later dates.
The official validation by the regional league follows an exhaustive administrative process that began in late June following the club’s exclusion from national competitions. After failing to secure readmission to National 1 or National 2, Bordeaux accepted a descent into regional championships.
Commercial Court Reviews Business Plan After Ownership Change
Despite the sporting integration into Régional 1, the club must still clear a crucial legal hurdle. The Bordeaux Commercial Court is scheduled to review and rule on the modified business continuation plan and corporate restructuring on October 20. The historic club was acquired in late September by the English investment fund Park Bench, which finalized an agreement with former owner Gérard Lopez.
Commenting on the institutional structure, French Football Federation (FFF) president Philippe Diallo stated that while he would naturally prefer to see Bordeaux competing in Ligue 1, football governance requires strict adherence to regulations.
Coach Arnaud Cormier Rebuilds the Club Roster
On the sporting front, coach Arnaud Cormier oversees a condensed training group at Le Haillan. Following the agreement of six players from last season’s National 1 squad—Léo Jousselin, Nadjib Cissé, Ruben Droehnlé, Driss Trichard, Soufiane Bahassa, and Steve Shamal—to reclassify as amateur players, alongside the addition of striker Baptiste Guillaume and former Grenoble midfielder Baptiste Isola, the club continues to build its roster.
Upcoming Judicial Review
The definitive legal validation of the continuation plan by the Bordeaux Commercial Court is set for October 20.
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