While the relegation to Ligue 2 of the Girondins seems inevitable, the financial situation of the club and the fate of the Matmut Atlantique stadium was on the agenda of the Bordeaux Métropole council this Friday morning.
A drastic payroll reduction plan – Alain Anziani, President of Bordeaux-Métropole
During this update on the future of the Girondins, Alain Anziani, the president of Bordeaux Métropole spoke of “worry and sadness” to have to “the heritage club” in this situation. “Bordeaux needs a professional club”. “I have a thought for the employees of the Girondins“, declares Alain Anziani, while looming “a drastic payroll reduction plan”.
Gérard Lopez “will remain in charge in Ligue 2”
The president of Bordeaux-Métropole also reveals having spoken Thursday evening with Gérard Lopes. Following a board meeting of the Girondins, the club owner confirmed that he “will remain in charge in Ligue 2“. The Navy and White Chairman is currently negotiating with his King Street and Fortress creditors to establish “a budget which will be presented to the DNCG” in mid-June.
Alain Anziani evokes a possible “liquidation of the club”
For the rental of the Matmut Atlantique and the annual maintenance costs, the Marine et Blanc pay each year a fee of nearly 5 million euros to the metropolis. “Neither the public-private construction partnership contract nor the stadium usage agreement provide for the possibility of relegation and therefore of a reduction in this fee.“, recalls Alain Anziani.
“It is not yet time to cry, but it is time to be alarmed”
The president of the metropolis advances “two hypotheses”. In the first case, the budget is validated by the financial policeman of French football. The Girondins remain residents of the stadium, “nothing changes for SBA“, the managing company of the Matmut, even if in 2025 the renewal of the naming.
“The most dramatic hypothesis“, the DNCG does not validate the new financing plan. Without guarantee, it is the demotion in national 3 and even the liquidation of the club. “It is not yet time to cry, but it is time to be alarmed“, confesses Alain Anziani.
Whatever happens, the taxpayer will not have to go to the cash registerpromet Alain Elderly. “The budget of the metropolis is more than a billion euros, we could do without 5 million royalties without having to put in place a new tax”.
“The fault of the American pension funds” according to Pierre Hurmic
“We do not only have economic relations with the Girondins”, recalled Pierre Hurmic, the mayor of Bordeaux. The Navy and White are the “Heritage of all Bordeaux residents. It’s a sad moment for our city and our metropolis”. The environmentalist mayor calls for “draw lessons from the abuses of recent years“, laying the blame on “American pension funds that make rain or shine”.
There is no more suspense on a descent into Ligue 2 this Saturday – Pierre Hurmic, EELV mayor of Bordeaux
Recalling for its part the glorious hours of the Girondins in particular “the European epic against AC Milan“, Nicolas Florian, leader of the opposition Les Républicains spoke of a club”anchored in the heart and soul of the Girondins”. “A club on the edge of the abyss“, estimates Thomas Cazenave, boss of the LREM group in the metropolis of Bordeaux.
Who cares – Philippe Poutou, Bordeaux city councilor in struggles and metropolitan councilor
“You have to put it into perspective, it’s not dramatic at all“, tempers Philippe Poutou, of the Bordeaux en Luttes group. Even if he says he has a thought for the club’s employees who could be made redundant, the elected opposition representative believes that “the news is also the situation at the hospital (…), besides that, the situation of Girondins, who cares.
–
