The ax pronounced by the DNCG in mid-June and which condemns Bordeaux to an administrative demotion still haunts the thoughts of relatives and supporters of the historic club Girondins de Bordeaux. But, for his part, the chairman-shareholder Gérard Lopez has always wanted to remain confident. The future of the Girondins de Bordeaux will be known this Tuesday, July 5 after the appeal to the financial policeman. After the Professional Football League (LFP), this time it is the body of the French Football Federation (FFF) which will look into the club’s finances.
Serious grounds for hope
As soon as the demotion to the lower level was announced, the club, in a press release, spoke and Gérard Lopez has since proclaimed his ” total investment “in his mission to rescue the Girondins de Bordeaux.
Discreet in the media during the days that followed this decision in the first instance, Gérard Lopez kept the link with certain actors of the territory and in particular political figures. This is particularly the case of Alain Anziani who exchanged with Gérard Lopez the day of the passage in front of the financial policeman. Since then, the president of Bordeaux Métropole has waived the rent owed by the club, amounting to 5 million euros.
But, apart from this gesture, what was especially scrutinized by the followers of the Girondins club, it is the behavior of the two main creditors of the club, King Street and Fortress. After weeks of silence, things seem to have accelerated in recent weeks. And the agreement that Gérard Lopez would have obtained with American investors could be lifesaving for the survival of the Girondins de Bordeaux in the short term.
confidence returns
It was only four days before the appeal to the DNCG that Gérard Lopez obtained the agreement he wanted with the creditors. A relief : ” It’s been a roller coaster but it’s signedwelcomed a source in the entourage of the club to AFP. We answered point by point and in a precise way to the motivations formulated by the DNCG “.
An agreement and several commitments
The income received from the sale of Aurélien Tchouaméni to Real Madrid, more than ten million euros, will remain in the club’s coffers. The other expectations concerned in particular a contribution from the shareholder (8 million euros) in the form of a capital increase and a reduction of half of the debt (52 million euros in total) which is transferred to the Jogo Bonito holding company. (company of Gérard Lopez and his associates). “They have been validated by an auditor”, said, relieved, the entourage of the Hispano-Luxembourg businessman. Finally, a compulsory line of credit of 14 million was opened to cover the sales expected during the summer transfer window. Bordeaux hopes to recover nearly 40 million during this transfer window, in particular with the expected sales of Junior Onana, Alberth Elis, Hwang Ui-jo, even Sekou Mara. But to date the clubs interested in these profiles are waiting to know the outcome of the call from the Girondins to draw their offers.
Strong progress therefore, which gives hope to all Bordeaux supporters. But, the decision now belongs to the DNCG which will examine this new financing plan this Tuesday, July 5th. The final decision should be known on Tuesday afternoon.