The Chinese owner of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard (FCSM), administratively relegated to National and who risks filing for bankruptcy, is ready to sell the club for 12 million euros, reported Monday Nicolas Pacquot, Renaissance deputy for Doubs, in a communicated.
Frankie Yau, president of the club, spoke by videoconference Monday morning with Olivier Becht, Minister for Foreign Trade, and Nicolas Pacquot, Renaissance deputy for Doubs. “The president’s message is clear: they are doing everything to keep the club in Ligue 2,” explains Nicolas Pacquot. Frankie Yau reaffirmed “that there are only two possible scenarios left, namely Ligue 2 or filing for bankruptcy. The National 1 scenario has been discarded because paradoxically it would cost more than an L2 budget.
“In addition, he clearly stated that if a buyer put 12 million euros on the table today to balance the 2023-2024 budget, allowing the survival of the FCSM, then he would leave the keys to the club, going as far as sit on the 18 million euros already invested”, continues the press release from the deputy of Doubs.
The club, one of the founders of professional football in France, is on the brink. The current owner, the Chinese real estate group Nenking, was unable to make up the forecast deficit for the coming season. After finishing 9th in L2, the club has for the moment been administratively relegated to National, and could plummet to National 3 and lose its pro status.
Mr. Yau currently has “two serious leads which concern European investors”, but time is running out because the club must go back to the league’s financial policeman on Thursday. In the event of a fall in N3, 150 people would be made redundant and the club would lose its historic training center. The Cubs’ difficulties caused a stir in the Sochaux region, where thousands of supporters gathered on Saturday to show their support for the club.
Sochaux was twice French champion (1935, 1938). He also won the Coupe de France twice (1937, 2007), as well as the Coupe de la Ligue (2004). The Cubs also played in a UEFA Cup semi-final in 1981.
