Fallen French giants Bordeaux sold to US-based fund for one euro

[p]The deal will see owner Gerard Lopez exit the ‌club after a five-year spell that has seen the ‌2008-09 Ligue 1 winners descend from ‌the top tier of French football to the ‌sixth, where they will now attempt to ‌start their season.[/p][p][b]"This operation (sale) is concluded for a symbolic euro with the assumption of debts," said ‌a statement from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bordeaux/SKc9FeQ7/"]Bordeaux[/a], which called ⁠it "a major step ‌for the future" of the club.[/b][/p][p]The debts Park Bench ​will assume are close to €18 million, said French media outlet Ici.[/p][embed guid="fb5f07d8-f58c-4d51-b7e7-bff0eb1dc220" url="https://x.com/girondins/status/2105195516682182985" social-type="twitter" /][p]Park Bench ​is a data analytics and software company with an investment portfolio. It is owned by ⁠American Evan Sofer ​and Briton James Bord.[/p][p]The fund already holds shares in Spanish second-division outfit [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cordoba/CWuejruc/"]Cordoba[/a] and is the majority shareholder in Scottish Championship (second-tier) club [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/dunfermline/Eg3xY5eg/"]Dunfermline Athletic[/a].[/p][p]Bordeaux have ‌twice been placed into administration since 2021 and as a result of relegations enforced by the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG), have spent the last two seasons playing in the Championnat National 1 (fourth tier).[/p][p][b]This year, Bordeaux have faced more financial issues, which led the DNCG - which oversees the accounts of professional clubs ‌in France - to relegate them to Regional ​1 (sixth tier).[/b][/p][p]The Regional Management Control Commission of the ‌Nouvelle-Aquitaine Football League must now approve the sale and the club's budget for 2026-27 for Bordeaux to play in Regional 1.[/p][p]The Bordeaux Commercial Court must also approve ⁠the plan so ⁠Bordeaux can avoid ‌liquidation.[/p]