The kitty launched by the club displays a few hundred euros, very far from what it would take to bail out the accounts of SOM football. For at least two seasons, the club has accumulated unpaid bills. According to information collected by France Bleu Maine, the total slate represents between 50,000 and 70,000 euros.
Part of this sum is due to the football authorities: more than 17,000 euros. It is in this capacity that the steering committee of the Pays-de-la-Loire regional football league must decide on Monday on the removal of the club. This sanction would put an end to its activities.
The late payment of registration fees corresponds to two seasons. Already, at the end of 2020-2021, the SOM owed nearly 10,000 euros. Requested at the start of the 2021 school year, the city of Le Mans agreed to pay an exceptional subsidy to clear this debt. Except that the sum was not used to pay the Regional Football League. SOM football has other debts, with suppliers and Urssaf. The symptom ofa deep management crisis, in a club where the management teams have succeeded each other rapidly for years. Failing to be able to repay its debts, it is the filing for bankruptcy that threatens SOM football.
Already an exceptional grant
“Since the first alert this summer, we have supported the association financially with this grant, insists Nordine Arik, the sports assistant at the city of Le Mans. I also accompanied them on a personal basis, with advice so that they could get the necessary finances for the survival of the club. It seems very difficult to me to support them more than what we could do.”
Based in the California complex, the Le Mans club created in 1933 has around 400 members, including 300 minors. The other sections of the Maine Olympic Stadium, independent, are not affected by the future of SOM football.