The blow is very hard for the supporters of FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. The club, ninth in the last Ligue 2 season, was administratively relegated to National by the National Management Control Department (DNCG), the body announced on Wednesday.
The club “while recognizing the legitimacy of this decision, will appeal it in order to produce proof of coverage by the Nenking group (owner of the club) of its forecast deficit for the coming season”, reacted the FC Sochaux-Montbeliard.
Ligue 1 so close until the 30th day
Nenking “must imminently release the funds provided for this purpose, and pay them to its subsidiary”, assured the club, which specifies that the Chinese conglomerate, specializing in real estate, is encountering “cash flow difficulties” due to the crisis in the real estate market in China.
During the past season, Sochaux has long struggled for the rise in Ligue 1. The Doubs club was still third in Ligue 2 on the evening of the 30th day, but ended its season with eight defeats in a row to collapse in the 9th place, 17 points from the podium and 20 from second place, synonymous with a climb. Historic club of French football, champion of France twice (1935, 1938), Sochaux was still playing in Ligue 1 ten years ago, before relegation at the end of the 2013-2014 season. His last trophies are the Coupe de la Ligue won in 2004 and the Coupe de France in 2007.
A boon for Annecy
If Sochaux must go down to National, the first relegated from L2 would be maintained, namely Annecy (17th), according to article 520 of the competition regulations of the Professional Football League (LFP). The Haut-Savoyard club had asked in an open letter to be kept in an L2 with 21 clubs, considering itself “collateral victim” of the affair of the Bordeaux-Rodez match, arrested after the aggression of a Ruthenian player by a Bordeaux supporter. The victory was given to Rodez, ensuring the maintenance of the club and the relegation of Annecy.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, Annecy believes that the DNCG’s decision means that its request for an L2 to 21 clubs has “become irrelevant”. “Annecy Football Club remains in Ligue 2 for the 2023-2024 season and will now focus on building a team worthy of this championship”.