FC Girondins de Bordeaux, a former six-time champion of Ligue 1, has decided to disband the club after being unable to solve their financial problems.
Previously, Bordeaux faced administrative relegation to the National (3rd division) due to financial problem and failing to meet club licensing criteria.
Most recently, on July 25, 2024, the club informed the French Football Federation (FFF) that it intends to abandon its professional status, which it had held since 1937. This decision stands even if the club were to be miraculously authorized to play in the National next season. A hearing before the DNCG League (the professional football league) scheduled for August 1 was canceled.
The third division, to which Bordeaux was administratively demoted by the DNCG, is a “hybrid” league consisting of both amateur and professional clubs. When a club is relegated, it loses its professional status by default but can request an exemption to retain it for two seasons. For instance, Sochaux followed this path last season after its relegation.
However, Bordeaux has decided against this plan and must significantly reduce its payroll since it no longer has the means to cover it. The club’s payroll amounted to 36 million euros last season, including 25 million euros for the players and staff of the first team. As of June 30, the club had a net loss of 40 million euros.
Abandoning professional status will result in the automatic termination of all player contracts and the loss of accreditation for the training center, which accommodates 70 youngsters, about half of whom are housed on-site. All will be released, and Bordeaux will not be able to recover compensation from potential future transfers.
Without professional players, the need for cash is significantly reduced. However, president-owner Gérard Lopez will still need to guarantee before the commercial court that he has the means to continue the club’s operations, particularly the payment of administrative employees’ salaries, who will likely face a large-scale social plan.
If the court approves the receivership, the club will need to quickly present a budget for next season (N1 or N2) to the federal DNCG in the following days and swiftly build a squad composed of players under federal contracts.
Source : sudouest.fr
Credit Photo : Sports.fr
