Bordeaux’s Fall From Grace: Ex-Owner Reveals Near Miss With Leicester City Before American Takeover

By ArchySports.com News Desk

the dramatic decline of FC Girondins de Bordeaux, a storied club in French football, continues to reverberate throughout the sport. Now, former owner Nicolas de Tavernost, once at the helm of both M6 and FCGB, has shed light on the circumstances surrounding the club’s sale, revealing a near-miss deal with the ownership of Leicester City before the eventual American takeover.

Speaking on RMC, de Tavernost expressed his sadness over Bordeaux’s current predicament. Well,in general… We were 19 years old at the Girondins de Bordeaux. he highlighted the club’s consistent European presence during his tenure, stating, For 19 years we did almost the work, as we were European two years out of three. Our place was about 4th in this championship. This level of success is akin to an MLB team consistently making the playoffs or an NBA franchise regularly contending for a top-four seed in their conference.

The sale of the club coincided with the tumultuous Médiapro era in French football broadcasting. De Tavernost explained the rationale behind the sale: We sold, paradox, at the time of Médiapro. The sale was made during Médiapro. It turns out that our successors did not have the grinta for… He acknowledged criticism from supporters, saying, So, many supporters reproach us by saying ‘you sold to people with whom you shoudl have taken precautions’.

However, he defended the decision, citing financial constraints within M6, a publicly listed media company. We had two very sides, which were ready to put a lot of means. Why did we sell? Because we are a listed society of the media, and we no longer had the means to go to competition to be at the top of the table. We then said to ourselves that either we played the middle of the table, which was not necessarily exciting because bordeaux had a lifestyle that made you play anyway, but we did not have the means. We are a listed company, we cannot have vagaries that way. This is where we decided to sell. I traveled the world to look for buyers. This situation mirrors that of some smaller market NFL teams that sometimes struggle to compete financially with larger franchises.

De Tavernost then revealed a captivating detail: a potential deal with the owner of Leicester City, prior to their tragic helicopter accident. For the record, it should have been sold to the owner of leicester at the time (who died in a helicopter accident, editor’s note). We agreed on everything. The deal ultimately fell through due to concerns about multi-club ownership and potential conflicts of interest in European competitions. But we did not find the solution of the multi -ownership … We agreed on everything, the price, the modalities, etc … We did not find the fault for the multi -ownership because the two clubs played Europe.

The club was eventually sold to American investors, a decision de Tavernost now seems to regret, given the subsequent turmoil. it came across the Americans. Well, it was not as they wanted. They left, they transferred to Mr. Lopez,and I will refrain from making the slightest judgment. But obviously, when you spend 19 years in a club, me 25 years in the city of Bordeaux, with my friend Jean-Louis Triaud, we can onyl be bent by the situation as it occurs today. This echoes the concerns some American sports fans have about foreign ownership of their teams, fearing a lack of understanding of the local sporting culture.

The Bordeaux saga serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of club ownership, the allure and pitfalls of foreign investment, and the importance of stability in the volatile world of professional sports. The situation begs the question: Could bordeaux have avoided its current crisis had the Leicester City deal materialized? Further investigation into the due diligence process conducted on the eventual american owners, and the specific reasons for the failure of their tenure, would provide valuable insights for fans and industry observers alike.

Bordeaux’s Fall From Grace: Ex-Owner Reveals Near Miss With Leicester City Before American Takeover

By ArchySports.com News Desk

teh dramatic decline of FC Girondins de Bordeaux, a storied club in French football, continues to reverberate throughout the sport. Now, former owner Nicolas de tavernost, once at the helm of both M6 and FCGB, has shed light on the circumstances surrounding the club’s sale, revealing a near-miss deal with the ownership of Leicester City before the eventual American takeover.

Speaking on RMC, de Tavernost expressed his sadness over Bordeaux’s current predicament.Well,in general… We where 19 years old at the Girondins de Bordeaux. he highlighted the club’s consistent European presence during his tenure, stating, For 19 years we did almost the work, as we were European two years out of three. Our place was about 4th in this championship. This level of success is akin to an MLB team consistently making the playoffs or an NBA franchise regularly contending for a top-four seed in their conference.

The sale of the club coincided with the tumultuous Médiapro era in French football broadcasting. De Tavernost explained the rationale behind the sale: We sold,paradox,at the time of Médiapro. The sale was made during Médiapro. It turns out that our successors did not have the grinta for… He acknowledged criticism from supporters, saying, So, many supporters reproach us by saying ‘you sold to people with whom you shoudl have taken precautions’.

However, he defended the decision, citing financial constraints within M6, a publicly listed media company. We had two very sides, which were ready to put a lot of means. Why did we sell? As we are a listed society of the media, and we no longer had the means to go to competition to be at the top of the table. We then said to ourselves that either we played the middle of the table, which was not necessarily exciting because bordeaux had a lifestyle that made you play anyway, but we did not have the means. We are a listed company, we cannot have vagaries that way. This is where we decided to sell. I traveled the world to look for buyers. This situation mirrors that of some smaller market NFL teams that sometimes struggle to compete financially with larger franchises.

De Tavernost then revealed a captivating detail: a potential deal with the owner of Leicester City, prior to their tragic helicopter accident. For the record, it should have been sold to the owner of leicester at the time (who died in a helicopter accident, editor’s note).We agreed on everything. The deal ultimately fell through due to concerns about multi-club ownership and potential conflicts of interest in European competitions. But we did not find the solution of the multi -ownership … We agreed on everything, the price, the modalities, etc …We did not find the fault for the multi -ownership as the two clubs played Europe.

The club was eventually sold to American investors, a decision de Tavernost now seems to regret, given the subsequent turmoil. it came across the Americans. Well, it was not as they wanted. They left, they transferred to Mr. Lopez,and I will refrain from making the slightest judgment. But obviously, when you spend 19 years in a club, me 25 years in the city of Bordeaux, with my friend Jean-Louis Triaud, we can onyl be bent by the situation as it occurs today. This echoes the concerns some American sports fans have about foreign ownership of their teams,fearing a lack of understanding of the local sporting culture.

The Bordeaux saga serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of club ownership, the allure and pitfalls of foreign investment, and the importance of stability in the volatile world of professional sports. The situation begs the question: Could bordeaux have avoided its current crisis had the leicester City deal materialized? Further investigation into the due diligence process conducted on the eventual american owners, and the specific reasons for the failure of their tenure, would provide valuable insights for fans and industry observers alike.

To further illustrate the shifts in fortunes, here’s a comparison of Bordeaux’s performance during De Tavernost’s tenure versus the subsequent period under American ownership:

The potential deal with Leicester City, had it materialized, could have offered a different path. While multi-club ownership raises valid concerns, the Foxes, at the time represented a model of strategic investment and, ultimately, an unexpected Premier League title. It’s crucial to note that De Tavernost’s account suggests the agreed-upon price and terms were in place; the failure to resolve the ownership structure issue effectively scuttled the agreement. This scenario reinforces the importance of in-depth scrutiny during any potential club sale, especially regarding potential owners’ long-term vision and their commitment to the club’s values and history.

FAQ: FC Girondins de Bordeaux’s Ownership Saga

Here’s a breakdown of the key questions surrounding Bordeaux’s turbulent ownership history, answering the most frequently asked questions:

1. Who was Nicolas de Tavernost, and what was his role with FC Girondins de Bordeaux?

Nicolas de Tavernost was the former owner of FC girondins de Bordeaux, as well as the head of the French media conglomerate M6.He oversaw the club for approximately 19 years, during a period of significant on-field success, including regular qualification for European competitions. His experience illustrates the impact an involved proprietor may have.

2. Why did Nicolas de Tavernost sell FC Girondins de Bordeaux?

De Tavernost’s decision to sell was primarily driven by financial constraints. As M6 is a publicly listed company, the financial limitations prevented them from competing with the financial resources and the club’s capacity to achieve its set goals, and this impacted the on-field performance. The sale, therefore, was to protect the club from financial vagaries.

3.Who was Leicester City’s owner that was considered as a potential buyer?

He was Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the owner of Leicester City at the time. The deal never materialized due to concerns about multi-club ownership, and the subsequent tragic helicopter accident.

4. Why did the deal with Leicester City’s owner fail to materialize and what were the implications?

The prospective deal with Leicester City’s owner was never concluded due to issues with multi-club ownership and possible conflicts of interests. The fact that the two clubs played in Europe, made the issue more relevant. This failure had a major influence on Bordeaux’s trajectory in European soccer.

5. Who are the American owners that ultimately purchased FC Girondins de Bordeaux, and what happened after their takeover?

the American owners were not specified by name in the provided text, but their era was marked by evident financial difficulties and a fall in the performance. This ultimately led to the club’s degradation. This emphasizes the relevance of complete owners and the club’s ability to perform.

6. What is the current state of FC Girondins de Bordeaux?

FC Girondins de Bordeaux is currently struggling to regain its former prominence. The club’s status, as well as its on-field performance, needs extensive work to recover. The club’s path illustrates the intricate nature of soccer club ownership.

7. What lessons can other clubs learn from Bordeaux’s ownership saga?

The bordeaux example underscores the criticality of financial management, the potential dangers of external investment, and the need for ownership continuity. The fact that Bordeaux struggled with financial prudence underlines the need for stability. The club’s history offers valuable lessons for other soccer clubs.

By providing this detailed breakdown, the article aims to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the issues surrounding Bordeaux’s ownership shifts. This should give readers a deeper understanding of how these critically important events have impacted the club.