He pushed “a big sigh of relief”, when he heard the news of the Girondins de Bordeaux remaining in Ligue 2. Arnaud de Carli, vice-president of the Club scapulaire, this group of 150 business leaders, partner of the Girondins de Bordeaux, was at that time with Florian Brunet, the spokesman of the Ultramarines, the main group of supporters. “We thought it was a joy to have saved the club, because there was a real danger”, he says.
Meetings at the town hall of Bordeaux, the Senate and the National Assembly
A maintenance acquired this Wednesday after the decision of the French Football Federation, just three days before the resumption of the championship. The Girondins had first been demoted by the DNCG, the financial policeman of French football, at first instance and on appeal. Meanwhile, the mobilization was made to support the Girondins, both in the street, with a demonstration on July 9, and on the political level. The Scapular Club “got heavily involved”said Arnaud de Carli, who was alongside Gérard Lopez during the commercial court hearing.
“We tried to unite local politicians, Mayor Pierre Hurmic, Vice-President of the Senate Nathalie Delattre whom I went to see in the Senate, Thomas Cazenave, Nicolas Florian”. Requests for meetings, without success, were also made to the Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castera. “We were convinced that from the start, the political aspect would be important in the decision and I think the outcome proved us right”continues Arnaud de Carli.
On the other hand, while the club sought to reduce its debt, the Scapular Club did not inject any money. “The deadlines were very short, we could have. We talked about it with the president. Afterwards, for technical reasons, it was impossible”, explains Arnaud de Carli. An entry into the capital that he does not rule out in the coming months. In March, the group had above all signed a “strategic partnership” with the club, which aimed to consolidate “its regional anchorage”. Arnaud de Carli calls for “reopen the Haillan, the former players must be able to return”. The training center has also been inaccessible to supporters for two years.