FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, a historic club in the French football championship, is on the brink of collapse, administratively relegated to the third division by the financial policeman of French football, and threatened with bankruptcy. The prefect of Doubs calls to “save the club”.
The prefect of Doubs, Jean-François Colombet, visiting Montbéliard (Doubs) on July 13 called on the owner of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, the Chinese real estate group Nenking, to “take his responsibilities“to prevent the club from disappearing, according to France Bleu Belfort-Montbéliard.
After a disappointing season in Ligue 2, in sporting terms, the FCSM, one of the founders of French professional football, was administratively relegated to National 1 (third national level) by the National Management Control Department (DNCG). Due to a projected deficit of nearly 21 million euros in the budget, this sanction is likely to be extended into bankruptcy, for lack of a buyer. The Doubiste club then risks the descent into National 3, the loss of professional status and the training center. Unacceptable for the supporters, who demand the resignation of the general manager of the FCSM, Samuel Laurent.
For the prefect, the shareholder must break the silence
“He needs to tell us very quickly what the exact situation is, which no one knows. The shareholder must now take responsibility and tell us where the club is“, declared the prefect during his trip to Montbéliard. According to Jean-François Colombet, it is necessary for the shareholder to come out of silence”so that we can really establish a rescue plan, or even imagine a reconstruction“.
“We have to save this club. But the state can’t do anything in particular. We are here facing a private company. Everyone has to understand”
Jean-François Colombet, prefect of Doubsat France Bleu Belfort Montbeliard
Nenking, the Chinese conglomerate that owns FC Sochaux, which specializes in real estate, is meeting “cash flow difficulties“due to the real estate crisis in China,” the club said in a statement.
The prefect also underlined the role of the club on the scale of the Franche-Comté territory. “We are in a territory that is suffering. This club is the soul of northern Franche-Comté. It’s not just 20 players and four stands. Each individual has within him a part of this club. It’s not just football and business. I send a message of support and hope to employees and supporters. The territory can give impetus to this club, a future“, he launched. “We must save this club, it belongs to us, it is in us, it is a part of ourselves“, concluded Jean-François Colombet.
FCSM President Frankie Yau has promised to address Sochaux supporters through a video that will be broadcast on July 14 on the Doubiste club’s website. He responds to the request of the Renaissance deputy of Doubs Nicolas Pacquot with whom he spoke at length on Thursday, assuring him that he put “do everything possible to avoid the shipwreck, with the sole interests of the future of the club, the training center and the 150 employees affected“. A gathering of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard supporters takes place on July 14 at the Bonal stadium in Montbéliard.