The years go by and are similar for Tours FC. How far gone are the days when the Touraine club was talked about in a positive way. Still unable to move up to National 2 this season, and common resident of National 3 (5th division), the TFC could even experience a new disappointment in the coming days. Immense. A bankruptcy filing.
The former club of Giroud, Koscielny, Gradit, Santamaria, Bouanga in recent years or even Da Fonseca, Onnis in the 1980s, regular in the first division at that time and semi-finalist of the Coupe de France in 1982-1983, is nothing more than a shadow of himself.
In the grip of great financial difficulties, with an announced “alarming” cash flow, the club owned by businessman Jean-Marc Ettori has been on sale for several months. A takeover project, led by Omar Da Fonseca, beIN Sports consultant and former club striker (1982-1985), was canceled in May 2022. “I came with a real project, three very solid and well-known sponsors,” repeats today today Da Fonseca, bitter, who keeps strong ties with this city, where his daughter lives.
“Before May 7 (date of the meeting at the commercial court), the big problems must have been resolved. If they are not resolved, I don’t know what will happen,” announced Jean-Marc Ettori, tired of years of descent into hell and eager to resell his club.
The Corsican businessman, president of the Corsicatours tourism company, took over Tours FC on July 15, 2013. Ultimately, the results were catastrophic. Eleven years later, the TFC is no longer worth much, the Vallée du Cher stadium is deserted and the level of the first team is pathetic.
Discussions have been taking place for months with possible buyers, without this leading to anything concrete since then. “We have been talking for too long now with the emissaries of a Swiss, who is very rich, has an interest in the world of football and in Tours,” says Ettori, who has continued to alienate the town hall, the media or local investors in recent years. Except that the people who represent this gentleman are not made for football, in my opinion. They are not doing the right thing and I am very worried about that. I am told that some of those who are discussing with us would like to buy the club for a symbolic euro at the bar… Except that if the club is bankrupt, it will be up to the commercial court to decide […] and with a team that would start from R2.”
In the event of filing for bankruptcy, the Touraine club could indeed return to the 7th level of French football, as in 2019 and 2021.