This is an announcement that is ambiguous to say the least. Thomas Jacquemier, deputy general manager of the Girondins de Bordeaux, announced on Friday January 14 that the club “could not survive a descent into Ligue 2”. Very badly embarked sportingly and plagued by serious financial difficulties, the people of Bordeaux are on the edge of the abyss.
“We are not going to hide. Today, for the Girondins, there is no model, there is no life in Ligue 2. The income that we derive from TV rights in Ligue 2 do not allow the club to survive it”
Thomas Jacquemier, deputy general manager of the Girondins de BordeauxAFP
“For once, we can’t see it like some clubs that are doing the lift, which are more suited to that. For us, it’s no longer possible. It’s not a project to say ‘we will delay, we’ll come back later“, added the Bordeaux leader.
The deputy managing director took the opportunity to take stock of the finances of the Bordeaux club, taken over in July by businessman Gerard Lopez.
In recent days, the Girondins have caused a lot of ink to flow. Between the home linked to Covid-19, the desire to get rid of captain Laurent Koscielny by the end of January and the loss of invincibility at home against Marseille, Bordeaux is in turmoil.
“What is important for the DNCG (National Management Control Department) is that we have the necessary cash requirements to cover our entire season regardless of sporting hazards”, explained the leader. The latter is counting on a reduction in the operating deficit of more than 40% compared to last season, thanks to a strategy of cleaning up the accounts.
“This requires cost-saving measures, an increase in revenue and a reduction in the wage bill., he specified. Today, we are on average at 1 million euros per player. The trajectory is being corrected, especially on the payroll of our young players who are on much lower trends (-45%) than in the past. Historically, the club was above.”