As announced by the club themselves, Sochaux’s new budget following the takeover of former president Jean-Claude Plessis has been accepted by the DNCG – French football’s financial watchdog.
This means that the club will be able to play in the National 1, the French third division, pending the approval of their professional licence on the part of the French FA.
The former Ligue 1 club were on the brink of bankrupty after their initial demotion from the second tier due to financial problems, as had been decided by the DNCG.
An attempt to save the club saw Romain Peugeot – the grandson of the team’s founder – join forces with local investors and present a project to acquire it for a symbolic euro from Chinese conglomerate Nenking. Reportedly, Nenking then pulled out of an agreement whereby they would provide €4m of the €12m requested by the DNCG. Their initial appeal was then rejected by the French Olympic Committee.
The club will now be sold to a group of local investors under the name “FCSM 2028”, joined by a fan-led “Sociochaux” initiative.
Now, Sochaux are set to remain in French professional football, and will start the season in the third tier. The DNCG have nevertheless indicated that the club’s transfer activity and wage bill will be monitored.
GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin
