Crisis-hit Bordeaux are relegated to France’s THIRD TIER amid crippling financial woes

Crisis-hit Bordeaux are relegated to France’s THIRD TIER amid crippling financial woes, with the six-time French champions already sent down from Ligue 1… as the club express their ‘DISMAY’ over ‘brutal’ decision and launch an appeal

  • Bordeaux have been sent down to France’s third tier due to financial issues 
  • The six-time Ligue 1 winners finished bottom of the French top flight last season 
  • The club have appealed the ‘brutal’ decision and vowed to stay afloat   

Bordeaux have been plunged deeper into crisis after being relegated to the third tier of French football due to their increasing financial issues.

The six-time French champions and former Champions League quarter-finalists finished rock bottom of Ligue 1 last season so were already set to play in Ligue 2, but their vulnerable state has forced the DNCG – France’s football watchdog – to drop them down another division. 

The club are understood to have a deficit of around €40m (£34m), according to RMC Sport, with new owner Gerard Lopez desperately seeking help from investors to pump money into the club.

Crisis-hit Bordeaux have been relegated to the third tier due to their increasing financial woes

The six-time French champions finished bottom of Ligue 1 last term, racking up just 31 points

The call to place Bordeaux in the Championnat National 1 has been met by ‘dismay’ from the club’s hierarchy, who called it a ‘brutal’ decision , and confirmed they will be launching an appeal.

‘Girondins de Bordeaux will appeal the DNCG’s decision to relegate the club to National 1,’ the club said in a statement. 

‘It is with dismay that FCGB notes the DNCG’s decision to announce an administrative relegation to the third tier. The club will obviously appeal the decision immediately. 

‘This brutal decision, after nearly two hours of hearings in good conditions, deprives the club of continuing its strategy to clean up its finances and write a new page in Bordeaux’s history.

The club - managed by David Guion - expressed their dismay over the 'brutal' decision

The club – managed by David Guion – expressed their dismay over the ‘brutal’ decision

Fans protest before a clash vs Brest with a banner reading 'you are the shame of Bordeaux'

Fans protest before a clash vs Brest with a banner reading ‘you are the shame of Bordeaux’ 

BORDEAUX’S FALL FROM GRACE

Ligue 1 winners:  1949-50, 1983-84, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1998-99, 2008-09

Coupe de France winners: 1940-41, 1985-86, 1986-87, 2012-13

Coupe de la Ligue winners: 2001-02, 2006-07, 2008-09

Trophee des Champions: 1986, 2008, 2009

Intertoto Cup winners: 1995

Champions League/European Cup: semi-finalists 1984-85, quarter-finalists 1987-88, 2009-10

‘Heard on June 14 by the DNCG, the club presented a guaranteed re-engagement of the majority shareholder of $10.4 million, an agreement with the club’s debtors as well as offers for a few players more than the total targeted amount. 

‘The club remains confident in its ability to demonstrate a solid project for the 2022-23 season and the appeal will grant time to finalize new solutions to ensure Ligue 2 status.’

Bordeaux racked up just 31 points in the top flight last season, scoring 52 and conceding a league-high total of 91 goals. Indeed, it was the most goals any team had conceded in the top five European leagues.

The DNCG tried to relegate Bordeaux to Ligue 1 last season but the club kept their place after a fierce battle. 

It comes as St Etienne, who were also relegated to Ligue 2 last season, are being investigated by French authorities due to suspicious player registration and agent activity, with their offices raided by police.

Bordeaux received a windfall from Aurelien Tchouameni’s £85m switch to Real Madrid after the player began his career at the club, but even that pay-off wasn’t enough to save them from financial turmoil.

Bordeaux finished with 31 points last season and let in 91 goals - the most in all top five leagues

Bordeaux finished with 31 points last season and let in 91 goals – the most in all top five leagues

They will spend a first season outside the top flight since 1991-92, and their plight represents an incredible fall from grace for a club of this size. They have won 22 trophies, regularly competed in the Europa League and reached the Champions League quarter-finals as recently as 2009-10 – the year after they last won Ligue 1.

Bordeaux were sold to French businessman Lopez last year after being placed into administration. 

Lopez – the former president of the Lotus Formula One team – has fought hard to keep the team afloat by cutting down their huge wage budget. 

Samuel Kalu was sent to Watford in January while Hatem Ben Arfa and Youssouf Sabaly were both released on a free transfers. Former Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny – one of the club’s highest earners – has also departed for free.