The risk of filing for bankruptcy is becoming clearer for the Girondins de Bordeaux after relegation to National confirmed yesterday by the DNCG appeal committee. Philippe Fargeon says he is stunned. The international was champion of France and winner of the Coupe de France in 1987, also participated in the rise of the Girondins in Ligue 1 in 1992.
France Bleu Gironde: the club is 141 years old, it has been professional since 1937, it is a monument of sport that is collapsing. Supporters and politicians say they are stunned by this earthquake. your feeling ?
Philippe Fargeon: it’s catastrophic, dramatic even if deep down we expected it. I was very sad last night and it’s funny this morning waking up.
Do you agree with the analysis of Gérard Lopez, the president and owner of the Girondins who speaks of incomprehension and injustice?
it means that he still hopes to have a chance to get out of it. We all hope so. There is a court decision, and like all decisions, it must be respected. But if we still have the possibility of avoiding this cataclysm, I hope that President Gérard Lopez will do so.
The club says it wants to continue the fight, explore all possible remedies. The CNOSF, the administrative tribunal. Ligue 2 starts on July 30. does that seem realistic to you?
Let’s put that aside, and let’s go. It’s about rebuilding this club. Everyone must get their hands dirty: politicians, the city of Bordeaux, the department, the region, the consular chambers, trades, commerce and industry, business leaders, supporters. To give back to this club, an image, and a base of an Aquitaine club. Let’s avoid the lark mirrors of these people who say “I’m going to do this or that”, because it’s good, we gave!
Are you making a call this morning?
Sure. Everyone agrees this morning. Let’s make this club a real trainer, and no one should shoot themselves in the leg. And it is especially necessary to think of the employees who are not responsible for this situation. I also have a thought this morning for the women who did a great job.
Is a destiny for Strasbourg possible: demoted to CFA2 in 2011 and moved up to Ligue 1 in 2017, with a local president-savior Marc Keller and local investors?
This is the solution. Because we have seen. We brought in Americans. We brought in Lopez. We’re not here to hunt witches. And I repeat, we have to start again on the basis of a club that belongs to Aquitaine, to its business leaders, to its supporters and to its former players. And with agreements made with all the small clubs, so that the Girondins once again become a flagship club. It’s a long-term job that will actually make it possible to do what Strasbourg has done. And Strasbourg now has 30,000 people going to see the matches.