Two months to the day after the announcement of the withdrawal of King Street, majority shareholder of Girondins de Bordeaux, the football club could consider a way out of the crisis. If several takeover proposals were on the table, that of the Hispano-Luxembourg businessman Gérard Lopez could save the Bordelais from receivership; procedure which would have pushed the club to a probable relegation in 2e Division.
A “Relief” pronounced in concert by all the political actors of Bordeaux, as well as on the side of the supporters. The departure from King Street, announced on April 22, 2021, was a blow to the club six times champion of France, whose debt, estimated at 38 million euros in favor of the investment fund Fortress and its deficit of more than 60 million euros, remains to be mopped up.
In addition, the future buyer will also have to repay, in October 2022, a loan of 40 million euros. But the challenge did not discourage Gérard Lopez, 49, boss of the Lille club (LOSC) from January 2017 to December 2020, who made his fortune in new technologies. The guarantees he provided met the expectations of the Rothschild investment bank, responsible for the sale of the club.
No triumphalism
For Gérard Lopez, the time is not for triumphalism, blows one of his relatives. “It is not a triumphant state of mind, even if it has managed to unite on a project which is able to save the club. The next step is the examination of the project by the DNCG [direction nationale du contrôle de gestion], then the time will come to present the sports project to supporters and stakeholders. “
To complete the purchase of the club, Gérard Lopez must indeed prove in July to the financial controller of the Professional Football League that his financing plan is solid. But also provide satisfactory guarantees to Bordeaux Métropole, owner of the Matmut-Atlantique stadium.
When he came to Bordeaux on June 23, Mr. Lopez met with the president of the metropolis, Alain Anziani. According to the latter, the two men have recorded two major points of the project. First, about the stadium rent debt. “I suggested that he use a system that allows the amount of the debt to be spread over three years, but with a payment each year of 10% more, because on June 30, the Girondins owe 5 million euros to the Metropolis ”, explains Mr. Anziani. As for the stadium’s annual rent, which amounts to 4.9 million euros, “I proposed the same system of staggering. On these arrangements, Gérard Lopez agrees ”, rejoiced Alain Anziani.
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